As Real As It Gets (2025)
As Real As It Gets” is a photography project by Thomas Nolf exploring humanity’s need for escape through aviation culture. Between 2020 and 2024, Nolf traveled the globe, engaging with flight simulator enthusiasts, aircraft spotters, and visiting the world’s largest model airport, Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Nolf rekindled his childhood fascination with flying through Microsoft Flight Simulator, inspiring him to connect with others who similarly escape reality through aviation. Enthusiasts build elaborate home cockpits, ranging from desk setups to immersive recreations using real aircraft parts. This hobby provides a sense of control, structure, and autonomy, with some believing they could land an actual plane. The project also highlights aircraft spotters who document planes with precision. At places like Maho Beach in Sint-Maarten, spotters and tourists gather to experience low-flying planes against stunning tropical backdrops, merging thrill and beauty. Through photography, simulated images, and archival footage, Nolf examines the dreamy allure of aviation. His stylized compositions blur the lines between reality and fiction, reflecting on the romanticism and artificiality of escape.
Buy standard edition here
Buy special edition here (signed book, numbered Inktjet print, sheet size: 27cm x 22cm, edition of 80)
Published by Art Paper Editions
Design & Edit by Thomas Nolf & Jurgen Maelfeyt
Texts by Thomas Nolf, Arnon Grunberg
March 2025, English, Dutch
24 × 30 cm, 200 p, ills. color, hardcover
ISBN 9789083438481
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Peculiar Artifacts in Bosnia and Herzegovina - an imaginary exhibition (2017)
The book is the result of a 4-year project in Bosnia-and-Herzegovina where Thomas Nolf came across the existence of pyramids, stone spheres and other peculiar artifacts, discovered by Semir Osmanagich and his team. Aiming to draw an alternative biography that counteracts the post-war disillusion, Nolf photographed, intervened and ultimately tried to pedestal the phenomena as a history to believe in.
Texts by Danijel Dzino, Srecko Horvat, John Hooper, Semir Osmanagic, Cornelius Holtorf, Andrew Lawler, Irna, Thomas Nolf
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Published by Art Paper Editions
Design by Jurgen Maelfeyt, Jonas Temmerman, 6'56"
May 2017, English, Bosnian
17 x 24 cm, 176 pages, softcover w/ dust jacket
ISBN 9789490800642
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