People nominee

For several years now, I have portrayed children with various disabilities both in residential facilities and in families throughout Germany for the analogue photo series »up close«. The images’ aesthetic and the reduced background make it possible to see the children removed from prejudice and social location. In this series, I wished to show the children as they are - without physically supportive equipment or frames. This is why I photographed them in the bathtub. In this context, these aids and supports are simply unnecessary. In my own experience, bathing has always been a child’s most intense, sensual experience, in which they can relax their bodies completely. In Germany in everyday life, people with disabilities are still seldom encountered. While integration in political language now exists, implementation is still largely lacking. The medium of photography is in a position to tackle this discrepancy and make the hidden become visible. The close pictures of the photo series are the result of a sensitive, emotional human encounter. They bring children with disabilities into focus as individuals and show the viewer the autonomy and the humanity of these children.

Peggy Stahnke, born in 1988, completed her training as a photographer in Hamburg after graduating from high school. From 2012 to 2017, then she studied communication design (B.A.&M.A.) at the Muthesius Art School, Kiel, in the photography department. After completing her master's degree in 2017 she was awarded the »Muthesius project« (scholarship) for further qualification of the work »up close« for two years. In 2019, her first photobook was published. From 2018-2020 she received a studio scholarship in Kiel. In 2020 Stahnke received a work scholarship from the Schleswig-Holstein Cultural Foundation. The work »About Body« was awarded first place in the context of the "Photo Reflections 05 Exhibition for Photography in Schleswig-Holstein"; for her series »embodiment of pain« she received the audience award at the presentation of the »Muthesius Prize«. Since 2014 she has participated in exhibitions all over Germany. The first international exhibition participation took place in 2018 at the "Les Rencontres de la photographie" in Arles. The subject of the photographer's work focuses on people and their individuality. Peggy Stahnke lives and works in Kiel.