Flurina Rothenberger (1977) is a Swiss photographer and cultural producer raised in Zuénoula, Côte d’Ivoire, and based in Zurich and Abidjan. She has spent most of her career working in regions across the African continent, developing cross-cultural projects. Her photographs focus on the expanding urban landscape, often set in some of the world's fastest-growing economies, and the people who move within it. They paint a picture of a continent in rapid change, influenced by globalisation, yet maintaining a strong and varied cultural heritage.
Rothenberger's work draws on photography, design and writing, combining a research-based approach with highly collaborative projects, including workshops, publications, and virtual installations. She co-founded NICE Labs, a publishing project and space for knowledge exchange and mutual learning. For each new issue, young creatives from various fields come together in an African city to form an editorial and learning collective. They discuss topics, perspectives, and experiences, and, guided by mentors, translate their ideas into words and visuals, cultivating the publication process a collaborative effort.
As a freelance project developer and manager for cultural institutions such as artlink, Rothenberger has designed and coordinated transdisciplinary grant programs, workshops, and networking platforms between the Global North and South, enabling actors in the fields of art and culture to showcase their creative practice, share skills, and connect.
Her motivation lies in addressing existing economic and social disparities among nations and cultures. She is particularly interested in critically exploring digital technology—its risks and benefits—to tackle inequality and further meaningful collaborations within diverse cultural, social, ecological, and technological contexts around the world.
Rothenberger’s third book with Edition Patrick Frey, released in 2023, is a tribute to the life's work of the Ivorian-Burkinabé fashion designer and cultural activist Pathé'O. Flurina holds a degree in Visual Communication from the University of the Arts Zurich and regularly lectures at the Faculty of Advanced Studies in Photography in Vevey (CEPV), Switzerland. Her work has been exhibited and awarded, including the Swiss Design Award.
Contact
Flurina Rothenberger
mail@flurinarothenberger.ch
Phone +41 76 702 03 29
Downloads
Copyright Notice
Unless stated otherwise, all photographs and texts on this site are the property of Flurina Rothenberger. They are protected by Swiss Copyright Laws and are not to be downloaded or reproduced in any way without the written permission of Copyright holder, Flurina Rothenberger. All Rights Reserved.
Credits
Awards & Grants
2016
2015, Federal Office of Culture
Les Rencontres de la photographie, Arles
2013
in media partnership with DU
2005
Cultural Departement of Canton Zurich
2004
Federal Office of Culture
Exhibitions — Solo
2016
Photoforum PasquArt, Biel/Bienne, Switzerland
2014
Coalmine Documentary Photography Forum, Winterthur
Group Shows - Book Fairs
2016
Rituals and Performance: Inherent Risk, LagosPhoto Festival, Nigeria
Kunstverein Kärnten, Klagenfurt, Austria
2015
Helmhaus, Zurich, Switzerland
ZHdK, Departement Design, Zurich
Pacific Place, Admirality, Hongkong
Sotheby's, Zurich, Switzerland
2013
Messe Basel, Switzerland
2006
Cabaret Voltaire, Zurich, Switzerland
2005
Helmhaus, Zurich, Switzerland
2004
Museum Bellerive, Zurich Switzerland
Collections
2014
Selected Clients
2016
Monocle, Wired Japan, Libération, Refinery29, 032c, Accent Magazine, Hochparterre, Swiss Magazine, SZ-Magazin, Das Magazin, Annabelle, CS Bulletin, WOZ
vitra., Max Felchlin AG, SBB, Fischer Architekten,Futurafrosch, SwissBanking, ÖKK, BalanceHotels, Hotel Altstadt, Helvetas, Suchtprävention Zürich
Artist Books
2015
Images from the African continent 2004 - 2014. with Hammer, published by Edition Patrick Frey
2004
published by Edition Patrick Frey
Group Publications
2016
from Pemba, Moçambique, selfpublished
Fashion, Lifestyle and Design from Africa, Die Gestalten Verlag
by VfmK Verlag für moderne Kunst, Wien
2015
Editions The other Hundred, Hong Kong
2012
Globale Musik, Norient 012
2008
Gepflegt: Krass, Der Gestalten Verlag, Berlin
2007
Portraits, ausgewählt von Walter Keller, Salis Verlag AG, Zürich
2006
nieves, Zurich
Verlag Scheidegger &
Spiess AG, Zürich
Teaching
2016
Lecturer of Photography at F+F School of Art and Design, Zurich
Z-Modules, inter- and transdisciplinary courses at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK)