The photographs in the series Nuts on Ice by ML Kirchner are visual metaphors, combining two evocative idiomatic phrases: “Ice your nuts” (calm down, stay cool) and “Life is a melting ice cube.” These photographic compositions, simple in appearance and formal clarity, are narratives with profound symbolic meaning, reflecting on the human condition.

Through the juxtaposition of the organic and the ephemeral, ML Kirchner captures the tension between resilience and impermanence, inviting viewers to reflect on the precarious balance of life while also stressing the need to preserve and protect vulnerabilities. Ice, cold and relentless, always present in these photographs, serves as a temporary safeguard, highlighting the importance of resilience in the face of life’s challenges.

The walnuts themselves, often shown far from their most perfect state, suggest the precariousness of all that exists. The persistent presence of ice also reflects the human instinct to protect oneself from pain and anxiety, while acknowledging that such defenses are not lasting. These images speak to the universal human experience, where moments of relief are fleeting, and periods of resistance are often as fragile as melting ice.

What makes ML Kirchner’s photographs both appealing and poignant is the intersection of humor with serious, deep reflection. The initial visual pun of “icing nuts” quickly transforms into a profound meditation on life’s fragility.
By using everyday objects, often belonging to deceased relatives, Kirchner democratizes art, making these visual reflections accessible to anyone willing to consider the symbolism these images carry.

This photographic series also challenges traditional notions of still-life photography. Instead of simply capturing inanimate objects, ML Kirchner embeds unfolding stories within these works, simultaneously with the melting ice and the decay of life.

Nuts on Ice by ML Kirchner is on show at Galeria Sá da Costa, in Lisbon, until 31 October.

Text by Sandra Riedl