Pleasure is in the Detail

Welcome to the Atmospheres of Najt Lix Studio

Najt Lix Studio is a visual project founded by Celeste Najt and Matias Lix Klett. Based in Berlin, they work with film and photography to portray sensual stories about design, interiors, and architecture.

Creativity and the Everyday

Can you share with us your journey into the world of photography and filmmaking? How do you navigate the balance between showcasing authenticity in your work while still maintaining artistic interpretation or creativity?

Our partnership began inadvertently when we started sharing our vision in everyday life. We are partners in life and at work. Our obsession with furniture, architecture, design, aesthetics, functionality, beauty, form, tools, craft, music, and so on led us to start sharing some projects.
Celeste: To create frames within reality is something I’ve enjoyed since I was very young. I began taking photographs of everyday life while studying visual arts, and gradually, photography became one of the main mediums of my practice, which led me to study and obtain a degree in the field. My first steps in the commercial world of photography involved assisting international photographers in interior and travel shoots for renowned magazines.
Matias: I was always attracted to light in some way. I was curious about it, so I started a drawing course with a friend; this led me to start studying Graphic Design, which brought a lot of my knowledge of composition, color balance, and structure. After a couple of years, I shifted to studying Photography, which eventually led me to Film School. My main studies bring to the surface the story behind things, people, emotions, objects, random corners in the street, and things that catch my attention. The idea of the studio started to grow slowly but steadily, naturally leading us to dedicate more time to it every day. Today, we are fully dedicated to our studio, although we also dedicate some time to our personal projects. For us, authenticity arises from both our artistic interpretation and creativity, which serve as the driving impulses when creating stories and content. Our cultural influences have shaped the way we perceive things, and over the years, we have been able to create our own unique vision through a combination of these influences and our work experience.

In what ways do you think your work contributes to or reflects contemporary societal norms or values? What role do you believe everyday objects play in shaping culture and identity, and how does this influence your creative process?

Communicating important ideas and bold concepts that shape our society is a privilege and, at the same time, a big responsibility. Since we are working with individuals who dedicate their lives to these ideas and concepts, we are responsible for communicating their effort, their quest, and their vision. In other words, we build bridges that pass knowledge through visual language. Everyday objects play a significant role in shaping culture and identity. They can reflect and preserve cultural traditions, values, and emotions. They carry a symbolic meaning, representing ideas, beliefs, and cultural practices.

How do you see the intersection between photography and filmmaking when it comes to portraying everyday life? Do you find one medium more effective than the other for this purpose? How do you see this in relation to your other artistic practices?

Each project requires a specific approach: some are more technical, focusing on angles, camera positions, and light, while others are more creative, needing a sensitive look. Understanding what the client seeks is crucial for our focus and communication. Najt Lix Studio’s wider concept is to portray from micro to macro within a design, allowing us to showcase at various scales. Whether it’s a large building or a small object, we seek the narrative behind it, finding similar concepts across scales. We aim to balance aesthetics and functionality, communicating the story behind each object, interior, or building.

Getting in the Mood

How do you approach finding beauty or interest in seemingly ordinary objects or moments of everyday life?

We naturally find something to highlight in objects and moments, whether it’s a surface, an error, or shapes; there’s always something that captures our attention. The best results come from combining several elements. It’s about being connected with the present and what’s happening in front of you at the moment of capture. While you can plan for a shoot in a specific way, being open to what presents itself is crucial. Things can change quickly, and adaptability is key to working with what you have.

Light plays an important role in conveying the mood or atmosphere in your work. Could you share any specific techniques or tools you use to manipulate or enhance light in your projects?

Light, objects, and space interaction is fundamental in our storytelling. Using light as an expressive tool is fascinating; it’s a limitless language. Whether manipulating natural light by directing, modifying, blocking it or combining artificial with natural light to enhance shadows or highlights, the core principle remains the same: shaping light to achieve the desired mood or atmosphere. Even with artificial light, you gain complete control, allowing precise adjustments. Despite the varied techniques, all aim to masterfully shape light.

How do you select the ideal setting and utilize light, shadow, color, and sound to enhance the depth, dimension, and atmosphere in your compositions?

Selecting the ideal setting begins with understanding the story we aim to tell, that specific emotion or pulse. This pulse sets an initial atmosphere, guiding the integration of all elements—light, shadow, color, and sound—to achieve the desired effect. Each component not only connects ideas and reveals concepts but may also become the story’s focal point.—

1. Living with New Tendency.
Date: 2023
Location: Berlin, Germany
Use: Catalog

 
2. Ries.
Date: 2024
Location: Berlin, Germany
Use: Campaign