🎙️ Welcome to Ep. #69 of The Urbanaut Podcast, presented in collaboration with Urbanautica.com. In this compelling episode, we sit down with German-American artist Gesche Würfel, whose interdisciplinary work spans photography, urban planning, and visual sociology. Her projects explore the architecture of memory, historical trauma, and environmental change through experimental, research-based image-making.

About Our Guest: Gesche Würfel

Gesche Würfel is a New York-based visual artist known for her analog and concept-driven photography that investigates the socio-political dimensions of space—whether in forests affected by climate change, architecture tied to slavery and Nazism, or the lingering divisions of post-Wall Berlin.

Her work has been exhibited at Tate Modern, Künstlerhaus Bethanien, David Zwirner, International Center of Photography, and many others. She's a recipient of grants from DAAD, the Puffin Foundation, and the North Carolina Arts Council, and her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, and WIRED.

In this episode, we discuss her major projects:

- Discover how Gesche Würfel retraced the full length of the Berlin Wall to explore the invisible psychological borders that still divide Germany.

- Learn how she uses fire, salt, and solarization to transform photographs into visceral reflections of climate change.

- Uncover the stories hidden in America’s neglected slave dwellings and what their preservation—or erasure—says about historical memory.

- Explore how architecture becomes a tool of oppression, remembrance, and resistance in Gesche’s research-driven visual practice.

Tune in to this episode to:

- Explore how photography can serve as visual historiography and socio-political critique

- Learn how analog image-making and material experimentation can reflect environmental collapse

- Hear how oral histories, archives, and landscapes intersect in the retelling of German and American histories

- Gain insight into the emotional and ethical layers of documenting sites of trauma and transformation

EPISODE LINKS

Gesche’s Website: https://geschewuerfel.com | Instagram: @gewuerfel
Support the Book on Kickstarter: The Absence and Presence of the Berlin Wall

OUTLINE:

0:00 - Coming Up…

0:44 – Welcome & Introductions

1:30 – Gesche’s Journey: From Urban Planning to Visual Art

5:38 – Photography, Place, and the Traces of Human Presence

11:25 – Global Sameness and the Architecture of Identity

15:53 – Influences, Intuition, and Experimental Process

24:32 – Forests in the Anthropocene: Climate, Material, and Metaphor

37:23 – Architecture of Oppression: From Nazi Camps to Slave Dwellings

51:45 – Berlin Wall Project: Absence, Memory, and Reunification

1:18:50 – Portraits and Oral Histories: Telling a Fuller Story

1:25:10 – The Book: Vision, Kickstarter, and Teamwork

1:36:11 – Advice for Artists: Trusting Intuition and Long-Term Thinking

1:39:11 – Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Gesche’s Work

SOCIAL:

Twitter: /UrbanautPodcast

Facebook: /TheUrbanautPodcast

Instagram: /TheUrbanautPodcast

Support on Patreon: /TheUrbanautPodcast

#GescheWürfel #TheUrbanautPodcast #BerlinWall #ClimateChangeArt #ExperimentalPhotography #SociopoliticalArt #SlaveDwellings #HolocaustMemory #PostWallGermany #Urbanautica #PhotographyPodcast #ContemporaryPhotography #ArtAndActivism #VisualSociology #PatrickLeeHubbard #SteveBisson

Welcome to Ep. #68 of The Urbanaut Podcast, presented in collaboration with Urbanautica.com. In this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with the creative duo Camilla Marrese and Gabriele Chiapparini—two artists whose collaborative work challenges conventions in photography, publishing, and storytelling. Known for their poetic book "Thinking Like an Island", the pair explore how photography can be both an act of discovery and a deeply personal narrative. About Our Guests: Camilla Marrese & Gabriele Chiapparini Camilla is a photographer, graphic designer, and visual editor at PHMuseum, known for her meticulous approach to photo book design and her narrative sensibility. Gabriele began his artistic path through music before turning to photography, bringing with him a deep sensitivity to sequencing and atmosphere. Together, they’ve formed a creative practice that blurs authorship and embraces intuition, experimentation, and deep research.Their acclaimed project "Thinking Like an Island"—shot on the remote Sicilian island of Alicudi—is a lyrical meditation on isolation, perception, and the desire to escape. The book, structured as four interlocking volumes, reflects both the physical disorientation of island life and the conceptual fragmentation of modern existence.Tune in to this episode to:- Hear the story of how Camilla and Gabriele met, merged practices, and developed their first collaborative projects.- Explore how photography and music intersect through rhythm, tone, and emotional pacing.- Discover the conceptual and logistical challenges behind their book "Thinking Like an Island".- Learn how photobooks become tactile, multi-sensory works of art.- Get an exclusive preview of their upcoming projects on climate science and militarized aesthetics. Don’t forget to: - Subscribe to our channel for deep dives into photography and visual storytelling. - Like and share this episode to support independent photographic voices. - Follow us for behind-the-scenes updates, interviews, and upcoming features.EPISODE LINKS:Camilla’s Instagram: @camillamarrese Gabriele’s Instagram: @gabrielechiappariniPHMuseum: phmuseum.comOUTLINE:

0:00 - Coming Up...

2:36 - Intro

4:14 - Artistic Roots and Emotional Entry Points

8:09 - First Projects and Formative Experiments

9:44 - Becoming a Duo: Morocco and Merging Visions

12:34 - Melancholy and Mutual Fascination

15:18 - Sequencing Photos Like Music

20:21 - Albums vs. Singles: Why Photobooks Matter

22:46 - Inspirations from Literature and Photography

28:51 - What Makes a Great Photobook?

35:34 - Thinking Like an Island: Utopia, Escape, and Modern Myth

41:25 - Discovering Alicudi and Island as Concept

47:21 - Designing a Disorienting Book Structure

54:13 - Shooting in All Directions: Techniques and Tools

1:01:17 - Themes of Hiding, Camouflage, and Elusive Truths

1:03:09 - Layering Voices: Diaries and Islander Quotes

1:07:37 - Living on the Island: Terrain, Limitations, Time

1:14:01 - What the Island Taught Us About Reality

1:16:57 - Ethics of Representation and Local Reception

1:19:49 - Imagining an Exhibition of “The Island”

1:21:18 - Sneak Peek: Climate and Military-Inspired Projects

1:27:23 - Science as Ritual and Intimate Uncertainty

1:29:51 - Collaborating as a Duo: Contrast and TrustSOCIAL: Twitter: /UrbanautPodcast Facebook: /TheUrbanautPodcast Instagram: /TheUrbanautPodcast Support on Patreon: /TheUrbanautPodcastTAGS: #TheUrbanautPodcast #CamillaMarrese #GabrieleChiapparini #TheIsland #PhotobookDesign #PhotographyPodcast #ContemporaryPhotography #Alicudi #VisualNarrative #ClimateArt #CollaborativeArt #PhotobookLove #Urbanautica #SteveBisson #PatrickLeeHubbard

🎙️ Welcome to Ep. #67 of The Urbanaut Podcast, presented in collaboration with Urbanautica.com. In this compelling episode, we sit down with the insightful Swiss-based visual artist Roxana Savin, originally from Romania. Roxana's diverse body of work explores deep themes of identity, belonging, gender roles, and the status of women in contemporary society, influenced by her personal experiences and rich cultural heritage.

About Our Guest:

Roxana Savin Roxana Savin navigates complex narratives through her photography, transitioning from a legal career in Romania to a profound engagement with visual art. Her projects, such as 'On Heaven's Doorsill' and 'I’ll Be Late Tonight', offer a thoughtful exploration of societal roles and personal identity, reflecting her experiences both in Eastern Europe and as an expatriate in Western societies. Her work has been internationally acclaimed, earning her numerous awards and exhibitions across Europe.

Tune in to this episode to:

• Explore Roxana's transformative journey from a law professional to a celebrated visual artist.

• Delve into her poignant projects that discuss gender roles, migration, and cultural identity.

• Discover how her Romanian heritage and personal narratives influence her artistic expression.

Don't forget to:

• Subscribe to our channel for more episodes that delve into the world of art and visual culture.

• Like and share this episode to support discussions on gender roles and personal transformation in art.

• Follow us on social media for updates and exclusive behind-the-scenes content.

EPISODE LINKS: R

Roxana's Webiste: www.roxanasavin.com | Roxana’s Instagram: @roxanasavin

OUTLINE:

0:00 - Coming Up...

2:51 - Introduction

• 3:42 - Roxana’s Early Life and Career Shift

• 9:19 - Migration and the Impact of Moving Abroad

• 11:51 - Finding Art and Embracing Change

• 17:54 - Gender Equality and Advocacy

• 25:18 - 'On Heaven's Doorsill' Project

• 35:04 - 'I’ll Be Late Tonight' Project

• 40:34 - 'God Created Woman' Project

• 48:01 - Artistic Processes and Creative Insights

• 56:33 - Reflections on Cultural Identity and Artistic Expression

• 1:05:04 - Balancing Motherhood and Artistic Career

• 1:13:26 - Societal Impact and Future Directions

• 1:21:50 - Concluding Thoughts

• 1:29:38 - Exploring the Concept of Home and Belonging

• 1:37:13 - Artistic Reflections and Philosophical Insights

• 1:45:46 - Impact of Art on Personal and Social Change

• 1:53:24 - Closing Remarks and Advice for Emerging Artists

• 2:01:39 - Future Projects and Farewell

• SOCIAL:

  • Twitter: /UrbanautPodcast

  • Facebook: /TheUrbanautPodcast

  • Instagram: /TheUrbanautPodcast

  • Support on Patreon: /TheUrbanautPodcast

  #RoxanaSavin #TheUrbanautPodcast #Photography #VisualArt #SwissArt #RomanianArt #CulturalIdentity #GenderRoles #VisualNarrative #ArtisticExploration #urbanautica #stevebisson #PatrickLeeHubbard