Faces

Selected artworks are sold as archival photographic prints and will remain available until the edition is sold out.

Animal Character Studies

In his work, Oeggerli focuses on animal groups that are often met with rejection, disgust, or indifference in public perception. He aims to build a bridge to these creatures—beyond clichés and moral preconceptions.

Through extreme magnification, the animal image is removed from its original context and presented in a new, “neutral” way. The depictions are unpretentious and simple. Their immense level of detail invites viewers to immerse themselves in an abstracted reality—a new perspective that they must construct by seeking references from the macroscopic world.

Curiosity about this unfamiliar dimension disconnects the portrayed animal from its negative associations, which often stem from superficial and outdated views focused mainly on utility. Oeggerli’s works expand perception through unfiltered wonder at the extravagant, unexpected beauty of things up close. They invite critical reflection on how we assign value to what was previously invisible.

Regardless of belief or conviction, close observation of his work evokes respect and demands mindfulness, transforming the despised into the admired. The more intensely viewers engage with the details, the stronger the bond between creature and human becomes.

The consciously chosen portrait format of the “Animal Character Studies” series allows viewers to easily associate the images with human portraits. Unlike historical portraits—often idealized and reserved for rulers or prominent figures—Oeggerli uses a neutral, realistic photographic style. Like a passport photo, the animal is shown in bust or facial view, without distracting background, and subtly enhanced through coloration.

More than other formats, these portraits invite viewers to recognize human traits, explore character, and develop new emotional responses to the depicted animal. This “reprogramming of perception” leads to a shift in beliefs and attitudes through a playful experience of discovery. Depending on one’s curiosity and openness, each viewer creates a new interpretation of the subject and forms a prejudice-free relationship with the animal. Step by step, our natural fear of the unknown is replaced by familiarity, and initial rejection gives way to emerging curiosity.