Zoo. - Britta Jaschinski

Britta Jaschinski's exquisite photographs owe their inspiration to portraiture rather than documentation, creating an atmosphere rather than making a statement. The animals in these photographs have a shadowy, almost enigmatic presence that excites our curiosity and draws us in to their world.

Our glimpses of them tend to be partial and fragmentary - from a furry hand gripping an iron bar to dolphins floating just below the surface of a pool. Polar bears stare from a rocky stage, a zebra stands absolutely still and silent. All animals display a melancholy dignity, commanding a sense of respect in the viewer that is tinged with unease.

Jaschinski's involvement and empathy is evident throughout, but she never allows it to intrude; instead she offers us an arresting series of pictures in a hauntingly mesmerizing book.