Viola Maiwald: Between the layers

Between the layers.

Viola Maiwald documents natural gas extraction in Lower Saxony in her bachelor’s project.

Photo: Viola Maiwald

In her bachelor’s project ‘Between the Layers’, Viola Maiwald examines natural gas extraction in Lower Saxony, the German state with the largest reserves of raw gas. She not only photographs the production sites but also buries film next to the installations to create a direct imprint of the places. These ‘imprints’ refer to soil and sediment analyses carried out between 2015 and 2017 at 211 of Lower Saxony’s 455 gas production sites, which revealed contamination from substances linked to gas extraction. By juxtaposing the different layers of imagery, she invites viewers to engage with the complex interplay between beauty and destruction, dependence and autonomy – and challenges us to reflect on what often lies hidden.

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