Ephemeral Beauty

About the Photographers

Sino-Dutch photography duo Ning Kai (b. 1987) and Sabrina Scarpa (b. 1991) are partners in both life and work who seek solitary places to capture and convey moments of intimacy and clarity. They explore the essence and energy of the natural world, creating meditations on the fleeting seasons of life. By emphasizing the tangibility of the photographs, they aim to individualize their handcrafted prints as unique objects. Ning and Scarpa’s works have been featured in various magazines, including Harper's BAZAAR China, Monthly Photography Magazine, and La Fotografía Magazine, and on numerous websites like The Atlantic, PhotoVogue, The Independent Photographer, among others. In 2019, they were awarded the Barcelona International Photography Award BIPA.

Truth in Photography: Ning, you are from China. And Sabrina, you are from the Netherlands. How did the two of you meet? How did you begin creating art together?

Ning Kai and Sabrina Scarpa: We met in Beijing, where Ning participated in an exhibition while Sabrina did an internship. We started taking trips together, each with our cameras, capturing and combining images, and have been doing so for the last ten years.

TiP: With your different cultural backgrounds, how does that affect the way you create art, if at all?

Kai and Scarpa: Like an onion, it layers our creativity, strengthening its core. It broadens our perspectives while emphasizing shared human experiences and the essence of artistic expression.

TiP: Your artworks do a wonderful job of evoking the life and energy of the natural world. Why have you decided to focus on photographing nature?

Kai and Scarpa: Few subjects can transcend time and space as profoundly as nature. It is universal, providing us endless inspiration and a deep sense of connection. Through its beauty, we find the poetry of life.

TiP: How do you create your finished prints?

Kai and Scarpa: The images are captured on 35mm film cameras and printed in our darkroom. Afterwards, we retouch the prints, polish and ink the edges, and on some, we apply mixed media inspired by traditional decorative techniques.

TiP: I understand that you don’t caption your images. What’s your reason for this?

Kai and Scarpa: To grasp the meaning of things, we must approach them with a clear mind, free from preconceived notions.

TiP: Without captions, the locations of the photographs are unclear. I’m curious about what locations you have worked in. And what countries and locations do you enjoy photographing most?

Kai and Scarpa: After traveling in both the East and the West, we have come to learn that it's not about the location itself, but rather the brief and quiet moments that can occur anywhere. When we are moved by what we see, feel the presence of something greater, and discover that this is enough. That is what really counts, no matter where we find ourselves.

TiP: What images have been the most challenging to capture?

Kai and Scarpa: It’s either none or all. The biggest challenge may be keeping things simple.

TiP: What truth are you trying to reveal in your art?

Kai and Scarpa: There is no specific truth, only the laws of the universe.

TiP: How do you think that the alterations you make to your images affect the truth of the images, if at all?

Kai and Scarpa: We see it as an enhancement rather than a change; it elevates our desired aesthetic. Regardless of how the audience perceives it, the reality exists within the moments we capture.

TiP: Where do you want to take your art next? What new challenge do you plan to take on?

Kai and Scarpa: It's not something we often consider. Perhaps art guides us. We believe in consistency, so our focus is simply on continuing—everything else will unfold in its own time.

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EPHEMERAL BEAUTY

About the Photographers

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