Collective 22 is an international group of women photographers creating transnational environmental projects exploring relationships between humans, nature and culture. Founded in 2021 after an environmental photography lab, Collective 22 develops shared narratives through collaborative, group exhibitions.
Céline Haeberly, based in California, works on art-focused conservation projects in collaboration with scientists studying endangered coastal species. Polina Schneider, born in St. Petersburg, works on identity, environment, and politics, engaging with post-Soviet narratives.
Archive 22 (2025)
Archive 22 is an artistic exploration of underrepresented species listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (3.1) that lack visibility within digital and visual culture. Through a hybrid practice combining photography and synthetic imagery, Céline Haeberly and Polina Schneider, co-founders of Collective 22, construct a fictional archive that bridges presence and absence. Their visual language draws from scientific archival methods. Schneider and Haeberly use AI image generators in response to practical and ethical challenges in documenting certain species, including limited access and restrictions on actions which disturb the environment. Artificially generated images are clearly labeled and presented alongside photographic documentation. Each image is printed, sealed in a ziplock bag and scanned, with labels indicating species, location and image type. Through this process, Archive 22 reflects on displacement, memory, and the constantly evolving role of images in shaping conservation narratives on a changing planet.
The project is also on display at PhotoSquare at Malpensa Airport, in collaboration with
The project is also on display at PhotoSquare at Malpensa Airport, in collaboration with
