The series ‘Fire with Fire’ (2018–2021) emerged from Julius von Bismarck’s travels through the forests of Germany, along the Arctic Circle in Sweden, and to California. The year 2018 was marked by particularly devastating wildfires—images of flames and destruction flooded the media, bearing witness to the increasingly urgent reality of climate change.

In his series ‘Fire with Fire’, Julius von Bismarck explores the aesthetic power of fire beyond its destructive symbolism. In coordination with local fire departments, he gained access to restricted areas in order to capture moments that are both menacing and mesmerizing. Through the use of slow motion and mirroring, he amplified the hypnotic effect of the flames, transforming them and allowing them to rise into an almost surreal, dreamlike dimension. The mirrored images of fire evoke Rorschach patterns, inviting viewers to project their own subconscious thoughts, fears, and emotions onto the flames.

The series was presented in Julius von Bismarck’s solo exhibition ‘Feuer mit Feuer’ at the Bundeskunsthalle Bonn in 2020.