Seb Agnew is a Hamburg-based photo artist whose work explores the human psyche through constructed, often surreal environments. We previously featured his CUBES series on COOPH, and his latest chapter, CUBES III, continues to expand this conceptual universe into new territory.
Set within a fictional space station called Helios-9, the series unfolds across nine interconnected rooms, forming a closed system that reflects on the evolving relationship between humans and technology
Rather than presenting technology as a neutral tool, Seb approaches it as an active force—raising questions of agency, control, and responsibility in a world shaped by increasingly autonomous systems.
Seb’s images are grounded in a meticulous, process-driven approach. Each scene begins as a handcrafted miniature set, built using traditional techniques alongside tools such as 3D printing and laser cutting. Carefully lit and photographed, these environments are then expanded through compositing, with human subjects photographed separately and integrated into the final image. The result is a visual language that balances physical construction with post-production, maintaining a strong photographic foundation while extending into conceptual image-making.
Across CUBES III, space becomes both stage and metaphor. Rooms feel at once precise and disorienting—contained systems that mirror the structures we inhabit. In this tension between control and uncertainty, Seb creates images that are less about depicting a future than reflecting on the conditions of the present.
Seb’s work has been exhibited internationally and recognized with awards, including the Chromatic Photo Awards and nominations for the Aesthetica Art Prize and Photolucida Critical Mass.
Selected making-of videos:
Mercury Cube: https://youtu.be/_-HfAFEECeA
Earth Cube: https://youtu.be/5HkWUsoboEY
Neptune Cube: https://youtu.be/N1MHzRp8zhk
Follow Seb:
Website: www.seb-agnew.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/seb.agnew
