Fabian Kochendoerfer
Butterfly Angel (Series)
DESCRIPTION
The butterfly is a deep and powerful symbol of life and spiritual transformation, representing rebirth, change, hope, and balance.
Its metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly mirrors our own journey and reminds us how short and fragile life can be.
I captured these photographs using a vintage Polaroid SX-70, the first folding Polaroid camera from the 1970s.
I intentionally used rare expired color film from The Impossible Project, the company that rescued Polaroid film from extinction, producing unique and unpredictable tones on Round Frame Polaroids that create a vintage atmosphere and a cinematic, film-like quality impossible to achieve digitally.
Capturing these butterflies is incredibly challenging: they move quickly and are easily startled, and it took weeks of patient work to achieve each flawless Polaroid.
To me, butterflies feel otherworldly — fragile, light, majestic, and free. What a beautiful and mysterious creature!
AUTHOR
Fabian Kochendoerfer is a pioneering instant film artist since 2000, developing a distinctive style that makes visible the truths he discovered through philosophical and meditative insight.
Using vintage Polaroid cameras and rare expired instant film, he transforms fleeting moments like butterflies into reflections of reality, moments of infinity, and truth.
Embracing the risks of expired film, he intentionally creates unique, unpredictable tones, producing a cinematic, film-like quality and a vintage atmosphere impossible to achieve digitally.
His art embodies his discoveries:
“The world is just an illusion. Life is a dream. Wake up and know yourself!”
“The universe has beauty in abundance, and consciousness to witness it. My art is a reminder of this truth.”
Capturing delicate subjects on instant film is extraordinarily challenging. Fabian composes each shot with patience, turning fleeting moments into timeless, contemplative images that merge technical mastery with artistic intuition.
His photography has earned international recognition, including nominations and awards from FAPA, MIFA, IPA, ND Awards, PX3, and TIFA. Exhibitions include shows alongside Art Basel, Art Basel Miami, and the Venice Biennale.
He holds a Diploma from the Merz Academy, Stuttgart, Germany, and a Master of Arts from the University of Portsmouth, England.
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