Artist Statement

Art and Nature played a very grand role in my life and in who I am today. I believe Nature and the Expressive Arts can be a transformative „other” for societal and personal change. In my work I want to touch others, evoke emotions and inspire or question a different relationship with Nature and therefor with ourselves and others. I find Indigenous cultures and their knowledge very inspiring. They have a greatly different world view than “ours”, in which they see nature as a subject – in which one is in relationship with the land, with nature. Our senses and our being have developed together with nature and in nature. We are embodied nature. When we become aware of this connection, experience ourselves in the sensual and in the arts, we enter into a completely different relationship to ourselves and consequently also to our environment and others. In my work I explore this relationship to (our) nature. Outer landscapes pour into inner landscapes and the other way around. I work very intuitively, with a variety of media – primarily photography, next to video, and intermedia, incorporating poetry, sound, sculpture, installation, performance and dance – solo and in cooperation.

Sonja Lesinski was born in Osnabrück, Northern Germany. Since 2011 she lives and works in Hamburg and collaborates with creatives from around the world. From early on creativity and artistic expression were a part of her life. In 2013 she started working as a freelance photographer. As her artistic journey developed, the fields cinematography and intermedia art also become more important to her artistic expression. Her relationship to nature is very present in her artistic work as well. Also her knowledge as an Expressive Arts Therapist and Ecotherapist plays into her creative process and approach. Her main focus lays in the fields of portrait photography, documentary, art film, music & dance videos, collaborations with other artists, video installations and intermedia art projects.

I deeply care about reconnecting to ourselves, to others and to nature. I think it is especially important during this time. I am currently working on different art projects, but am always open for inquiries or collaborations and want to support others who are sharing their work and knowledge to inspire others.

2022 Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy Certificate via The Embody Lab
2021 Ecotherapy Certificate via the Earthbody Institute, California
2020 graduated with Master of Arts in Expressive Arts Therapy at MSH, Hamburg
2015 graduated with Bachelor of Arts in Studies of Communications Design.
Focus on Photography, next to Advertising and Film at HAW, Hamburg | supervised by Ute Mahler
2012 Semester Abroad at Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, USA

EXHIBITIONS

02/2015 IDOL, Group Show Ute War Hier, Westwerk, Hamburg
06/2015 Selected Works, Hamburg Zeigt Kunst, Hamburg
11/2016 Visual Artwork, Eigenarten Festival, Kukuun, Hamburg
01/2017 Solo Exhibition, Tanzschule für elektronische Musik, Häkken, Hamburg
10/2017 Visual Artwork, Eigenarten Festival, Gängeviertel, Hamburg

SELECTED CLIENTS & PUBLICATIONS

BMT, Das Recht der Tiere Magazine, Berlin Fashion Week, BLONDE Magazine, ChandraGems, Ecstatic Dance Hamburg, Elléments Magazine New York, EvolutionR, Hatha Yoga Book by Martina Mittag Meyer&Meyer Sportverlag, Hamburger Presseball, JOSEH, Lange Nacht der Museen Hamburg Museumsdienst Hamburg, LOVE & LIGHT Theta Healing Hamburg, SZENE Hamburg Magazine, Teal Swan, TRIBE Yoga Base, WhiteWall, YATAO