hi [at] benmaier.photography

My photographic practice as visual economist is rooted in the aftermath of neoliberalism. Present-day economic coherences that clash with ethical values attract my attention, especially their effects on the human condition and myself. This interest inspires me to research economic inequalities and alternative ways of designing life.

The camera is an exploratory tool for me, it helps me to grasp connections and to accumulate knowledge. My projects are visually driven and enhanced with text, film and sound. The photographic language incorporates fictional aspects and digital alterations – the visual strategies are variations of traditional documentary techniques, enhanced with contemporary and conceptual ambiguous aesthetics. The final projects can be considered visual eclecticism.

Even though I understand the destructive effect of economy on humanity, I also grasp its necessity due to the needs of our society. More than advocating for change I want to inform the polarized society about the complexity of economic injustice.


My work was published in: 
Der Greif Guest Room -Varun Gupta, Alternative Processes, Arts Thread, GEOlino, Schwarzweiss, NDR, Bento - Spiegel, Uniscene, Baobab, Dass Magazin, Soul of Street, Under Her Gaze We Feel Golden by Pineapple Road Press, Wave, Culture Action Europe (podcast), Common Ground Magazine, Stuttgarter Zeitung, Transference Magazine


I’m a founding member of Pineapple Road Press - an independent photography publishing collective.


I’m availabe for commissions worldwide.

Exhibitions

Father as scale/ Made by us (2023)
xpon-art gallery, Hamburg, Germany

Best of Graduates (2022)
Father as scale, Ron Mandos Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Everything Under Control (2022)
Father as scale, TROEF, Leiden, The Netherlands

ON YOUR OWN (2022)
Father as scale,  The Haagse Kunstkring, The Hague, The Netherlands

Father as scale (2022)
Graduation exhibition, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, The Netherlands

Piep Knars Krijs Kraak (2022)
I miss you home, Het Monument squat, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

I miss you, home (2022)
KENCES Conference, Nieuwe Kerk, The Hague, The Netherlands

I deliver your food, you treat me like s*** (2022) Project presentation, Bozar, Brussels, Belgium

I miss you, home (2021)
Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, The Netherlands

Don’t hold your breath (2021)
The grey space in the middle, The Hague, The Netherlands

Research Labs (2021)
EYE Filmmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

In the evening (2021)
Essen, Germany

norderlicht photo festival (2020)
Groningen, The Netherlands

besetzen (2019)
x-pon art gallery, Hamburg, Germany

Kolga Tbilisi Photo (2019)
Tbilisi, Georgia

We must unite (2018)
Landgang Brauerei, Hamburg, Germany

Sünde (2017)
Goldmarie, Hamburg, Germany


Presentations and conversations

The Future of Europe (2022)
The precarious situation of gig economy workers. Amplifying underrepresented voices, Bozar, Brussels

Visual research into the housing crisis (2022)
Presentation for Alderman of Den Haag, Martijn Balster

How can art influence politics? (2021)
I miss you home - squatting as a consequence of the housing crisis. D66, Den Haag 

Squatting as a consequence of the housing crisis (2021)
Conversation with Task force student housing Den Haag



Education

B.A. Economics and Media, DHBW Ravensburg (2009-2012)
Photography Design, Deutsche Pop Akadamie Hamburg (2016-2018)
B.A. Photography, Royal Academy of Art The Hague (2018-2022)