Mishka Henner is a Belgian-born artist based in the UK, renowned for his innovative use of photography and digital media. His work often explores the intersection of technology and visual art, using techniques like satellite imagery, digital scanning, and web scraping to challenge traditional perceptions of photography and landscape.
Henner was born in 1976 in Brussels, Belgium, and later moved to the UK where he studied photography at the University of Salford. His career has been marked by a deep interest in the transformational power of technology on visual information and the dissemination of imagery in the digital age.
One of Henner's most notable projects is "Feedlots" (2013), a series of aerial photographs showcasing industrial-scale agricultural sites in the United States. These images, which are sourced from publicly available satellite imagery, draw attention to environmental and ethical issues associated with mass meat production. Another significant work, "Oil Fields" (2013), similarly uses satellite images to reveal the scale and impact of oil extraction industries.
Henner's work extends beyond environmental commentary. His "Astronomical" series visualizes distances within the solar system in a human-scaled format, bridging the gap between astronomical data and everyday experience. Additionally, his "Dutch Landscapes" involves the manipulation of Dutch government-censored photographs of sensitive locations, subtly critiquing issues of surveillance, censorship, and national security.
His approach often involves repurposing existing images and data to create new narratives or insights, reflecting a broader commentary on access to information and the role of images in society. Henner has been recognized with several awards and nominations, including the Prix Pictet and the Deutsche Börse Photography Prize.