Biography

Jessica Wolfelsperger (* Basel) studied photography at BTK University of Art & Design in Berlin. During and after her studies, she has assisted various photographers and artists in Berlin, New York and Copenhagen. Besides that, she attended courses at the Ostkreuzschule für Fotografie and completed a certificate as a curator at the University of the Arts (UDK) in Berlin. In 2015, she won the first prize of the vfg for emerging talent as young photographer Switzerland and in 2017 the Swiss Photo Award in the category Fine Art.

Saga (2017)
A hundred souls village in the Verzasca Valley, surrounded by mountains amidst pure nature. For some weeks, isolated from the outside world, it seems. In a traditional stone house near the river, amidst the secluded beautiful mysticism. Enchanted by this valley, I read the ancient myths and legends of the region and feel the aura. They exemplarily address the discussion with nature, whereby the nature of the human being is also meant. Behind them are representations of faith, which are expressed symbolically. In search of the experience of a divine or absolute reality, I discover and explore my homeland new and wash myself – according to the life philosophy of Monte Verità – free from my daily life in the bustling metropolis and devise my own legend.

Hide + Seek (2017)
Fear of falling asleep at night.
Fear of not falling asleep.
Fear of the past rising up.
Fear of the present taking flight.
Fear of the telephone that rings in the dead of night.
Fear of electrical storms.
Fear of the cleaning woman who has a spot on her cheek!
Fear of dogs I've been told won't bite.
Fear of anxiety!
Fear of having to identify the body of a dead friend.
Fear of running out of money.
Fear of having too much, though people will not believe this.
Fear of psychological profiles.
Fear of being late and fear of arriving before anyone else.
Fear of my children's handwriting on envelopes.
Fear they'll die before I do, and I'll feel guilty.
Fear of having to live with my mother in her old age, and mine.
Fear of confusion.
Fear this day will end on an unhappy note.
Fear of waking up to find you gone.
Fear of not loving and fear of not loving enough.
Fear that what I love will prove lethal to those I love.
Fear of death.
Fear of living too long.
Fear of death.

I've said that.

by Raymond Carver

‘Hide + Seek’ is a series about anxiety. Each era creates its own fears, where new anxiety emerges. Classic phobias remain constant, but they are always seeking for current objects. We are free but sometimes we are locked in our own heads.

Awards

– 2017, Winner of the Swiss Photo Award in the category Fine Art 
– 2015, Winner ‘vfg Nachwuchsförderpreis für Fotografie Schweiz’, for emerging talent as young photographer Switzerland.

Exhibitions

– 2018, Group Show, Athens Photo Festival, Athens
– 2017, Group Show, Verzasca Foto Festival, Sonogno
– 2017, Group Show, Swiss Photo Award, Photobastei, Zurich
– 2017, Group Show, ‘Dont Forget Me Not’, Foto-Forum, Bozen
– 2016, Group Show, Bunker, Voies-Off at Rencontres de la photo, Arles