Nina Papiorek’s photography captures the interplay between lines, architectural forms and the presence of people. The minimalistic work has one key consideration – the relationship between communities and their urban surroundings. The images remind us that these stylish buildings are not created for simple aesthetic pleasure, they are made to be used. Lone figures disrupt the smooth lines and symmetrical patterns of the spaces. The viewer is left wondering where they’re going, or what they are thinking about. In many of the pictures, you’d be forgiven for not realizing that the smooth white lines are actually part of an architectural structure, but the people offer a sense of place and ground the abstract images in reality. Papiorek is an international award-winning photographer whose work has appeared in a variety of worldwide publications. She has contributed to several book projects and is the author of online photography courses and a founding member of the Düsseldorf street collective “dorfcollective.”





Words: Emma Jacob
All images courtesy of the artist.