Parts of Frank Schirrmeister’s series Sonntags in Berlin [Sundays in Berlin] are now on display at FENSTER61. The series was realized within five years at public events in Berlin, mainly on weekends. The pictures were taken at fairs, museums, sports events, beauty competitions, parks, demonstrations and whereever Berliners spend their leisure time.
My friend and mentor Andreas Rost’s series Fahrer Perspektiven [Driver Perspectives] is on exhition at FENSTER61 until Feb. 21th. During the last year he has spent a lot of time next to the drivers of busses, trams, subways and local trains in Berlin. The result is an extensive collection of rough black and white photographs showing the driver’s perspectives on the city. Check www.fenster61.de for details and and extract from the series.
At the end of the year there comes the moment of truth: any good pictures taken during the last 12 months? Any pictures that will last? Especially when you shoot in public places really good results are quite rare. These are three of my personal favourites of 2010.
1.
This was taken on the Gay Lesbian City Festival in Schöneberg, Berlin. Usually I go there every year but this year I was a bit late. The main party was over and some of the booths were already removed when I saw this scene on a street corner. Fortunately I had a flash on the camera for this one.
2.
I live in Berlin, Prenzlauer Berg. In the 90s this used to be the place to be for any artists and alternative way of living. Now everybody has grown older, the old buildings are reconstructed, more and more richer people moved in and everybody goes shopping at organic supermarkets. I pass this cow several times a week. It’s funny that those organic supermarkets try to attract people exactly with the same methods as any American Fast Food Restaurant on Route66: with a life-sized cow. Comined with this little child behaving as if it would drink from the udder this picture is a symbol for Prenzlauer Berg in 2010 to me.
3.
The Haus- und Heimtiermesse (pet fair) is a crazy event where you can buy anything you don’t need for a happier life of your pet. I like how the lady on the left looks at the other lady who’s face is as visible as the face of the poodle. Although this is often considered as a funny picture it also seems very melancholic and touching to me.
Currently at FENSTER61: Susanne Wehr’s Kennzeichen B from the artist’s vast archive of private slides volks-bild.com