thomas wrede's photography series captures fragile glacier landscapes

Bernhard Knaus Fine Art exhibits Thomas Wrede’s photo series

The exhibition Weiss War Der Schnee (White Was the Snow) presents recent works by photographic artist Thomas Wrede, focusing on glacier landscapes and human interventions. Through this series, Wrede examines the visual and environmental impact of climate change and highlights nature’s fragile beauty. The exhibition is on view at Bernhard Knaus Fine Art in Frankfurt, Germany, until April 19, 2025.

This marks the gallery’s first solo exhibition of Wrede’s Glacier Project. His photographic work explores the intersection of staged and natural environments, addressing themes of landscape transformation, environmental change, and human influence. Previous series have examined these concerns through a combination of documentation and constructed perspectives. The glacier photographs continue this approach, capturing the interaction between natural formations and artificial modifications.

Thomas Wrede, Rhonegletscher IV, 2020 | courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art, Frankfurt am Main ©Thomas Wrede, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

photographs reflect ongoing environmental shifts of glaciers

Initiated in 2017, photographer Thomas Wrede’s Glacier Project includes large-scale panoramas and interior views of glacier caves. The series examines the practice of covering glaciers with fleece to slow ice melt, documenting the resulting textures and material contrasts. Close-up images depict the coverings as they deteriorate, revealing exposed debris and discolored snow. The composition, framing, and variations in tone highlight the altered state of these landscapes. Additional works in the series focus on the phenomenon of Blutschnee (Blood Snow) on the Presena Glacier in South Tyrol. This natural occurrence, caused by pink algae in melting snow, introduces distinct color variations to the landscape. The images reflect ongoing environmental shifts and the changing conditions of Alpine glaciers.

The title Weiss War Der Schnee references the transformation of these environments, drawing attention to the evolving relationship between natural and human-altered landscapes. Wrede’s approach does not aim for direct documentation but instead uses photography as a means of visual analysis. His work is included in international collections and has been featured in exhibitions such as the Climate Biennale at the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna (2021) and Weather Engines at Onassis Stegi in Athens (2022).

Thomas Wrede, Rhonegletscher outside #1, 2019 | courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art, Frankfurt am Main ©Thomas Wrede, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

image courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art

Thomas Wrede, Rhonegletscher inside #10, 2019 | courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art, Frankfurt am Main ©Thomas Wrede, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

Thomas Wrede, Rhonegletscher inside #6, 2019 | courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art, Frankfurt am Main ©Thomas Wrede, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

Thomas Wrede, Rhonegletscher inside #30, 2020 | courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art, Frankfurt am Main ©Thomas Wrede, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

image courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art

Thomas Wrede, Rhonegletscher inside #21, 2019 | courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art, Frankfurt am Main ©Thomas Wrede, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

Thomas Wrede, Rhonegletscher inside #2, 2019 | courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art, Frankfurt am Main ©Thomas Wrede, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

Thomas Wrede, Rhonegletscher inside #4, 2019 | courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art, Frankfurt am Main ©Thomas Wrede, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

Thomas Wrede, Rhonegletscher inside #7, 2019 | Courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art, Frankfurt am Main ©Thomas Wrede, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

image courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art

Thomas Wrede, Presena Gletscher, Blutschnee #2, 2020 | Courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art, Frankfurt am Main ©Thomas Wrede, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

image courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art

Thomas Wrede, Presena Gletscher I, Vlies, 2020 | Courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art, Frankfurt am Main ©Thomas Wrede, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

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Thomas Wrede, Presena Gletscher, Blutschnee #7, 2020 | Courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art, Frankfurt am Main ©Thomas Wrede, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

Thomas Wrede, Presena Gletscher, Blutschnee #5, 2020 | Courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art, Frankfurt am Main ©Thomas Wrede, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

Thomas Wrede, Presena Gletscher, Blutschnee #4, 2020 | Courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art, Frankfurt am Main ©Thomas Wrede, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

Thomas Wrede, Presena Gletscher, Blutschnee #3, 2020 | Courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art, Frankfurt am Main ©Thomas Wrede, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

Thomas Wrede, Rhonegletscher outside #4, 2019 | Courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art, Frankfurt am Main ©Thomas Wrede, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

Thomas Wrede, Rhone Glacier outside #2, 2019 | Courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art, Frankfurt am Main ©Thomas Wrede, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

Thomas Wrede, Rhone Glacier inside #5, 2019 | Courtesy of Bernhard Knaus Fine Art, Frankfurt am Main ©Thomas Wrede, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

project info:

name: Weiss War Der Schnee – White Was the Snow
photographer: Thomas Wrede | @thomas_wrede_art

host: Bernhard Knaus Fine Art | @bernhard_knaus_fine_art

dates: February 06 – April 19, 2025

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom