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The beginning of Christian Kaspar Schwarm's passion for art is marked by a postcard: It depicted a painting by Sigmar Polke with the ironic sentence "Higher beings commanded: paint the top right corner black." The lightness and wit of this work opened Schwarm’s door to a new world around 25 years ago. Shortly thereafter, he began collecting himself and has since shared his enthusiasm for art with great joy. In 2008, he launched the digital platform "Independent Collectors," which, among other things, publishes the "BMW Art Guide" – the world’s only guide to publicly accessible private collections. For this type of bridge-building, Schwarm was awarded the "Art Cologne Prize" in 2019 for outstanding contributions to art mediation. As a future strategist, which is his primary profession, he particularly values contemporary art as a "precise guide to tomorrow." Schwarm is a voluntary member of the board of the "Friends of the National Gallery" and, according to his own words, along with his wife Lea, is "in a constant state of one great journey of discovery."

Lea and Christian Schwarm share a passion for collecting contemporary art, viewing it as an invitation to dialogue and even as a “glimpse into tomorrow.” Alongside this personal interest, they work together as future strategists, playfully aspiring to create “the most contemporary version of an old-school family business.” In 2008, Christian Schwarm founded the digital art platform Independent Collectors, which later gave rise to initiatives such as the BMW Art Guide. In recognition of his commitment to making contemporary art more accessible, he was awarded the Art Cologne Prize in 2019. He also serves on the advisory board of the Friends of the National Gallery in Berlin. Lea and Christian are particularly fascinated by creative intersections between art, design, architecture, gastronomy, science, and societal visions of the future. By their own account, they live in a “continuous state of one great journey of discovery” – always exploring new ideas, perspectives, and connections that shape the world of tomorrow.

Born in China and now based in Hamburg, Ailin Huang brings a nuanced perspective to the cultural and economic dynamics of her native country. She holds degrees from the London School of Economics and the University of Oxford, where her research focused on China's economic reforms and history. Her professional path includes managing global programmes for the OECD and the International Energy Agency in Paris, as well as advising the European Commission. Today, as an industrial CEO, she actively shapes Sino-German business relations. On this voyage, she looks forward to sharing her insights into China's ongoing transformation at the intersection of tradition, modern business, and global policy. 

Nina Papiorek is a German photographer whose visual language is characterised by an unmistakable aesthetic. In her predominantly black-and-white works, she explores the interplay between lines, architectural forms and the human presence in urban spaces. Her photographs lie at the intersection of street photography, urban landscape photography and fine art photography. 
 
A minimalist approach runs like a common thread through her work. At the heart of her photographic narratives lies the relationship between people and their urban surroundings, which she captures using a clear, graphic visual language and a keen sense of composition. 
 
As a professional street photographer, Nina Papiorek has been honoured with numerous prestigious international photography awards, including the International Photography Awards (IPA) and the Fine Art Photography Awards. Her work is exhibited and published worldwide.
 
In addition to commissioned work for international clients, she is involved in various book projects, leads photography workshops and is regularly invited to serve as a judge for international photography competitions. 
 
Nina Papiorek lives and works in Germany. She has been passionately dedicated to photography for over 20 years and is the author of two highly acclaimed photography books. She has been an official X-Photographer and brand ambassador for FUJIFILM since 2026. 

About the Gallery 
The gallery presents a series of works by the German street and fine art photographer Nina Papiorek, created during her photographic journeys through Asia. From Tokyo via China and Hong Kong to Vietnam, she explores the connection between people, architecture and urban space, creating striking visual worlds that bridge tradition and modernity. 
Known for her award-winning black-and-white compositions, Papiorek distils cities down to their essential forms, structures and moods. Lines, light and shadow merge with the presence of people to create graphically powerful photographs that go far beyond conventional travel photography. Her works capture the identity and atmosphere of the places she visits and tell of the rhythms of urban life, of movement and density as well as moments of tranquillity. 
The urban series are complemented by photographs from Vietnam, which document traditional craftsmanship and those who preserve it. Together, the works offer a multifaceted glimpse into the cultural diversity of Asia and the stories hidden behind its cities and people.