Born in Darmstadt, the photographer NOUKI was raised within an environment where the forces of language and art flowed in tandem, fostering a life marked by duality and cultural depth. His mother, a Frenchwoman, ran a school of painting, while his German father, a renowned sculptor, contributed his own form of expression to the world. The house in which he grew up was thus imbued with the sensibilities of two worlds, both rich in their own histories and aesthetic values.From an early age, NOUKI was steeped in the realms of art and music. The rhythmic cadence of life called to him with particular insistence, and it was music—specifically the drums—that captured his youthful ambition. Yet, as often happens in the lives of those destined for artistry, the course of his life took a sudden, unexpected turn. He sold his drums and acquired a camera instead, a decision that would alter his path forever.His study of photography became a journey of not just technical mastery, but of profound emotional connection. For NOUKI, the act of photographing transcends the mere mechanics of light and shadow—it is a dialogue between him and his subject. His deep sensitivity to rhythm, cultivated in his early musical years, allows him to engage with the individuals he photographs on an almost instinctual level. He becomes attuned to their very breath, to the subtle beat of their blinking, to the minute movements that often go unnoticed. In this delicate interplay of time and gesture, he identifies that precise moment—the fleeting instant—when the essence of his subject is revealed, and the image is born.NOUKI’s work, which graces the campaigns of international brands, is marked by an unmistakable style that enchants and captivates. His images, with their ethereal beauty and penetrating depth, reflect his extraordinary ability to connect not only with the world of visual art but with the very souls of those he captures through his lens.

Photo: Florian Schueppel