We built a life for ourselves – and lost ourselves in it

Kunstplaza : Many people are currently feeling that their lives are no longer in harmony. They function, meet expectations, are successful – and yet feel empty inside. Who is your work aimed at?

Lena: To precisely these people. To those who quietly – or even very clearly – sense that there is more. More depth, more truth, more of their own life.

Oliver: Our art is more than decoration. It's a memory, a portal. And a quiet but powerful anchor for people in transition who want to allow themselves to dream again.

Kunstplaza : Your own path is radically different from that of many others. What was the real reason for your departure?

Lena: Ever since I was little, I've wanted to travel. Unfortunately, I only had the chance far too rarely. In September 2022, when I got my first car, "Spencer," I finally answered the call of the North: With my little Golf and a mini bed in the trunk, I set off for Sweden. At first, I was accompanied only by my little dog, Filou…

Oliver: And that was the point for me to go all in! Because it was right at that time that I fell head over heels in love with Lena. Even before that, I was drawn to other countries and had toyed with the idea of ​​emigrating, starting over. But when I learned about her travel plans, I knew: NOW is the moment, and there HAS to be a way forward together – even if it's just trying for a few months. What came of it, you can see here on my hand! [shows his wedding ring]

Lena: That was probably the moment we realized: "We're living a good life – but is it really ours?" We were functioning, planning, optimizing. And at the same time, things were getting quieter inside. Our departure wasn't about getting away from something, but about moving towards ourselves. Towards a life that feels right.

Kunstplaza : You've chosen a nomadic lifestyle. Why this particular form?

Lena: I would say because it feels right. And maybe because it simply corresponds to our nature. Movement keeps us awake. Places, landscapes, and encounters reflect who we are at that moment.

Oliver: And because we – almost by chance – realized that this way of life is much older than we thought.

Kunstplaza : You refer to the book "Humankind: A Hopeful History." What role does this insight play for you?

Oliver: A huge one. Learning that humanity lived nomadically, peacefully, and sustainably for tens of thousands of years was like a profound confirmation for us. It was only with claims of ownership, demarcation, and control that many of the problems we collectively feel today began. The fact that we are now choosing to return to such a primal way of life doesn't feel like escapism—but rather like a remembrance.

Kunstplaza : Your photographic art is very aesthetically pleasing – and at the same time powerful, vibrant, and multifaceted. At the same time, you say that it's often not enough on its own. What do you mean by that?

Lena: We've learned the hard way that without context, our art remains "beautiful" to many. Amidst the flood of AI-generated images, it often gets lost. It only comes alive through interaction. When people meet us, hear our stories, and understand what led us to create a piece – then something happens. Then they don't just want to see these images, they want to take them with them. Home with them. Into their lives.

Kunstplaza : You're currently testing a – rather anonymous – exhibition situation. What does this show you?

Oliver: Anonymity creates distance. Even accompanying texts can't replace genuine encounters. Our art thrives on connection, on conversation, on shared moments of reflection. That's why we see ourselves less as exhibitors and more as catalysts.

Kunstplaza : Catalysts for what?

Oliver: For unfulfilled dreams. For longings that have been suppressed for a long time. We repeatedly notice that people see themselves reflected in our images – not as they are now, but as they once were or wanted to be.

Lena: And interestingly, people often see completely different things in our pictures than we do!

Kunstplaza : Was there an encounter that made this particularly clear?

Lena: Yes. An older lady at a small barn Christmas market. She stood for a long time in front of one of our pieces, in which I appear. She was so moved that tears came to her eyes. In that moment, it became clear that she wasn't seeing me, but her own life, lived and unlived. Encounters like these are one of the reasons why we continue.

Kunstplaza : If your art unfolds its full effect through direct contact – what does that mean specifically for your work today?

Oliver: That we go out, show ourselves, are there! Our work doesn't end with the printing of a picture, but often only begins with conversation. We've understood that encounter isn't a bonus, but the core.

Kunstplaza : This is where your "Symbiosis Live" events came from. What is there that isn't possible in a traditional exhibition?

Lena: Time. Depth. Resonance. At Symbiosis Live, a shared space is created where people not only look, but also feel, ask questions, and share stories. Our images are not explained – they are shared. And that is precisely how they unfold their power.

Kunstplaza : What do people experience when they come to a Symbiosis Live Event?

Lena: Some come curious, others exhausted. Many leave calmer – and at the same time clearer. It's not about external inspiration, but about internal remembrance.

Kunstplaza : Is there something that visitors almost always take with them – regardless of whether they buy a work of art or not?

Oliver: the permission to take himself seriously again. And the certainty that change doesn't have to be a radical cut – sometimes a first, honest step is enough.

Kunstplaza : Why do you think people need such spaces for experience right now?

Oliver: Because so much has become too loud. Because optimization and self-promotion are so exhausting. And because genuine connection – to oneself and to others – has become rare. Symbiosis Live is a counterweight.

Kunstplaza : Symbiosis Live takes place in very different locations. Why is it worthwhile for hosts to invite you?

Lena: Because a space changes when genuine encounters take place within it.

Oliver: Yes, and hosts are not just giving their guests art, but an experience that has a lasting impact. Conversations, connections, and memories often arise that remain – far beyond the evening itself.

Kunstplaza : For whom is Symbiosis Live not intended?

Lena: Definitely for people who just want to consume or just want to get tips for a nomadic life.

Oliver: And for haste and superficiality. Symbiosis Live needs openness – everything else can stay outside.

Kunstplaza : If Symbiosis Live were a feeling that people would take home with them – what would it be?

Lena: Connection. With oneself. And with the tingling feeling that one's own life can be even bigger, freer, and more authentic!

Oliver: Exactly! Because if WE can do it – why shouldn't others be able to too?

Kunstplaza : What do you give back to people with your work?

Lena: We show them that they already have permission. There are no instructions and no promises. Just a silent invitation to feel again.

Oliver: And to dream – and to take the first step. Because nobody can give you that permission except yourself.

Kunstplaza : And where will your path lead you next?

Oliver: Wherever we're headed right now. Specifically: After the Balkans and Greece, Western Europe with France and Great Britain will follow in 2026.

Lena: Yes, and I'm so excited about Scotland! We collect places and moments like fragments – and weave them into images that remind us: Your life can be bigger than what you have lived so far.

Symbiosis is an ongoing artistic work about interconnectedness – between man and nature, art and life, memory and future.

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