Kai Loeffelbein
about
// TITEL THESEN TEMPERAMENTE / Author Dennis Wagner
Kai Löffelbein (born in Siegen) is a photographer based in Hanover, Germany. He studied political science in Berlin and photojournalism and documentary photography at University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Hanover. His work reflects his interest in the ways political and economic structures shape modern society. Kai worked in various countries in Asia and Africa committing himself mainly to long-term projects. Löffelbein's pictures are represented in many international exhibitions and have received numerous prizes, including the Henri Nannen Prize, the Magnum Emergency Fund, the UNICEF Photo of the Year Award.
In 2018 he published his first book ‘Ctrl-X. A topography of e-waste’ at Steidl Verlag. ‘Ctrl-X - a topography of e-waste’ is a photo book, exhibition concept with an own project website (www.ewaste-trail.com). His latest book 'Common Dreams' has just been published at Kehrer Verlag.
In his latest project, Löffelbein explores the traces of German colonial history and examines how Germany's colonial seizure of land and tyranny shapes and influences contemporary debates in Germany and it's former "spheres of influence".
Kai welcomes assignments local and overseas and is always interested in collaborating with freelance journalists, artists and writers on projects. Since 2020 Kai teaches documantary photography and visual storytelling at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Dortmund.
Find his pictures at laif photo agency.
All images © 2008-2024 Kai Löffelbein All Rights Reserved
awards
2024
Alexander Tutsek-Stiftung Stipendium Shortlist - Otto Steinert Preis
2023
VG Bildkunst Stipendium
2022
Hannover Stipendium - 'Hannover Shots' für künstlerisch-dokumentarische Fotografie Shortlist Georg Koppmannpreis Shortlist Otto Steinert Preis
2021
Nieders. Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur - Stipendium BBK- Bund Bildender Künstler - Projektföderung Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur - NDS - Arbeitstipendium Namibia
2020
ENCONTRAS DA IMAGEM, HONORABLE MENTIONS - Photobook Award for Common Dreams
2019
Nomiation, Felix Schoeller Award Finalist, Hellerau Portrait Award NordLB - exhibition support Kaunas Photo Finalist
2016
Grenzgänger Stipendium – Robert Bosch Stiftung & LCB
VG Bild-Kunst Stipendium
TheDocumentaryProjectFund Grant
Px3- Prix de la Photographie – Feature Story – Gold
2015
Px3- Prix de la Photographie – Environmental – HONORABLE MENTION- France
Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation for Documentary Photography – Finalist
2014
Magnum Foundation Fund grantee – USA
Foto Visura Grant – Finalist -USA
Head on photo – 2nd place multimedia – Australia
Px3- Prix de la Photographie – Feature Story – Silver – France
2013
PhotoPhilanthropy Activist Award Winner – USA
1st Prize – KOLGA TBILISI PHOTO AWARD -Reportage Category – Georgia
Finalist – 5th International photography festival Organ Vida – Croatia
Finalist – KL International Photoawards – Malaysia
Shortlisted for CIWEM environmental photographer of the year – London
2012
1st Prize – Henri Nannen – Germany
1st Prize – Canon Profifoto Award – Germany
1st Prize – 6th International Press Photo Festival/Vilnius – Lithuania
1st Prize – Zenith award – Germany
3rd Prize – 8th DAYS JAPAN International Awards – Japan
3rd Prize – Foto Visura Spotlight Grant – USA
New York Photo Award winner – USA
Critical Mass, Top 50 Selected Artist -USA
Pdn photo annual finalist winner
Kolga Tbilisi Photofestival – shortlisted – Georgia
Px3- Prix de la Photographie, Paris – Honorable Mention – France
Px3- Prix de la Photographie, Paris – PEOPLE’s
CHOICE AWARDS Gold -Winner – France
2011
1st Prize – Unicef photo of the year award – Germany
nominations
PRIX PICTET 2014
APA / Lucie Foundation Scholarship 2014
PDN’s 30 2013
shortlisted for Visa d’or awards 2013
World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass 2012
the Foam Paul Huf Award 2012
exhibitions
* Haus der Geschichte Bonn - "Schattenseiten der Digitalisierung"- März 2023 – Frühjahr 2024. * Galerie für Fotografie - Echo Echo Hannover Postkolonial - Maerz 2023 * Museum füer angewandte Kunst Köln - 40 Jahre laif - Maerz 2022 * Haus am Lützowplatz - earth t.b.a. - April 2021 - Berlin * Festival Internacional de Fotografia de Belo Horizonte - Nov 2020 - Brazil * Städtische Galerie Kubus - Kubus Kooperativ -Sep 2020 - Hannover, Germany * Photo IS:RAEL - Nov 2019 - Tel aviv, Israel * Museumsquartier Osnabrück - Felix Schoeller Award - Oct 2019 - Osnabrück * ARP MUSEUM - Kunstkammer Rau, die vier Elemente - Sep 2019 - Remagen * Pingyao Fotofestival - Sep 2019 - China * Photaumenales - Le Quadrilatère - Sep 2019 - Beauvais, France * Umweltbundesamt Dessau - July 2019 - Germany
* Galerie für Fotografie Hannover - May 2019 - Germany
* Mairie of the 2nd Arrondissement Paris - April 2019 - France
* Paris Photo, GalleryFeldbusch Wiesner Rudolph, - Nov 2018 - Paris, France
* Gallery Feldbusch Wiesner Rudolph Berlin - Oct 2018 - Germany
* laif Gallery - Sep 2018 – Germany
* Indian Photography Festival - SCREENING - SEP 2018 - Hyderabad, India
* A/D/O, NEW YORK- Jun 2018, USA, New York
* Landesmuseum Koblenz - Festung Ehrenbreitstein - Jun 2018 - Germany
* Museum am Dom Trier - May 2018 - Germany
* Museum fuer Kommunikation Bern - Aug 2017 - Switzerland
* F2 Fotofestival – Dortmund – Jun 2017 – Germany
* AddisFotoFest – Addis Ababa – Dec 2016 – Ethiopia
* APhF – Benaki Museum – Athen – June 2016 – Greece
* Fotofestival Lumix – Hannover – June 2016 – Germany
* Monash University // Museum of Art – Melbourne – May 2016 – Australia
* Tbilisi History Museum – Tbilisi – May 2016 – Georgia
* Empty Quarter Gallery – Dubai – Jul 2015 – VAE
* AddisFotoFest – Addis Ababa – Dec 2014 – Ethiopia
* Empty Quarter Gallery – Dubai – Dec 2013 – VAE
* Organ Vida – Intern. Photofestival Zagreb – Sep 2013 – Croatia
* Berlin Photofestival – Station Berlin – June 2013 – Germany
* Environmental photographer of the year – Royal Geographic Society in London – April 2013 – UK
* 6th International Press Photo Festival/Vilnius – Photo Circle – Nov 2012, Vilnius, Lithuania
* PHOTOVISA – IV Festival Internacional de Fotografia – Oct 2012, Krasnodar, Russia
* Europäischer Monat der Fotografie Berlin; Gallerie f/16 -Oct 2012- Germany
* Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland – Oct 2012, Bonn
* fotodoks – Festival for contemporary documentary photography – Oct 2012, Munich
* Ian Parry Scholarship Finalists Show – Sep 2012 , MOTHER, London
* Les Promenades Photographiques – June 2012 – Vendóme
* Kolga Tbilisi Photofestival – June 2012 – Tbilisi, Georgia
* Lumix Fotofestival For Young Photojounalism – June 2012 – Hannover
* New York Photo Festival – May 2012 – New York
* National Science and Technology Museum – E-Waste Ghana – Mar 2012 –Milan
* Goethe-Institute Moskow – “Tolerance” – Jul 2011 – Moskow
* Euro Centre (centre for integration)- “Il volto della crisi – the face of crisis” – Jun 2011 -Skopje, Republic of
Macedonia
* Gallery J.A. Fischer – “baby hatch” – Feb 2011 – Hannover
* Brussels Capital Region Parliament – “Search of Solidarity” – Nov 2010 – Brussels
* The Air Gallery London – CIWEM’s Environmental Photographer of the Year – Nov 2010 – London
* Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health – “At Work”- Jun – Sep 2010 – Dortmund
* Europaeum- „Poverty”“ – University Regensburg Mai 2010 – Regensburg
* Travelling Exhibition “Forced Laborers in Germany” EU Projekt 2010
* Assembly of European Regions – „Europe on the move. Migration, Integration, Stereotypes“ – Oct 2009 – Brussels
* C/O Berlin – “Close Up!” – Mar 2009 – Berlin
* Foundation Theodor Heuss House – „Dignity“ – Okt 2009 – Mar 2010 – Stuttgart
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