Jutta Drabek-Hasselmann has already made a name for herself as a macro photographer of the legendary “Fabricius” insect collection. From June to December 2026, the Zoological Museum in Kiel is dedicating an exhibition to her, featuring photographs of extraordinary collection items from the museum’s archives. The large-format images reveal details and structures of organisms that have rarely or never been shown before.

The photographer explains: “For years, I have been fascinated by the shapes, colors, and designs of nature. I therefore consider it a great privilege that, as one of the few photographers, I have access to the vast archives of zoology and am able to explore this diversity through photography. Some of my ‘models’ are several hundred years old and fragile, yet still beautiful. That is why I treat them with respect and patience, so that they can tell us what they wish to convey to me and to humanity.”

Collections are archives of life. They not only preserve scientific data but, above all, document the fascinating diversity of forms and structures on our planet. In doing so, they also safeguard a unique artistic treasure. The photographs bring into focus the beauty and evolutionary aesthetics of various organisms that have developed over millions of years, and  reveal to us the uniqueness, but also the profound vulnerability, of nature—a powerful plea for the value and preservation of our biodiversity.
The exhibition is located in the gallery of the Zoological Museum’s large whale hall.
Admission is included with the museum ticket.

Friday, Aug 28, 2026, 7 pm – midnight
Museum Night 2026
Details