In 2008 you begun to take photos as a self taughter. What were your first steps? And how did you develop your personal view about photography?
Back in the days I went out to take photos every day and shoot whatever I found interesting. I didn’t care much about my equipment or compositions. Those thoughts came over time when I realised that those factors can make my photos better and more the way I want them to look like. I developed my own photography over time through practising and looking at many portfolios on the internet, in books, magazines and exhibitons. I gradually found out what I want to do and what not and found out that I enjoy capturing buildings more than people and that I prefer simple compositions over complex ones. Within the last years I took many many photos and went to many different places to work there and I guess that how my photography and my personal views developed.
You are a Berlin-based photographer. What do you like about German architecture? What kind of things are you attracted to?
There’s nothing special I like about German architecture, the reason I moved to Berlin in the first place was not the city’s architecture but the music scene. But it happened to be the first city where I started to shoot architecture and indeed, especially the west of Berlin is full of interesting and strange architecture. I’m often attracted by weird and unique architecture that is a bit futuristic. In general I’m attracted by everything retro-futuristic and alien-like. Sometimes with buildings it’s like with traffic accidents, it’s hard to look away, although it’s not pleasant. I can say that I’m more attracted by the ugly buldings than the beautiful ones.
Do you change your approach if you are in an other city?
No, I don’t change my approach, I really enjoy long walks through the city and that is what I do whenever I’m in a city for the first time – I walk and keep my eyes open.
You’ve been in Italy and you published a book called “Alveare”. What are your
impressions about italian architecture?
Oh that’s hard to say, I did only focus on architecture from the 60s and 70s, so I am not able to give a general statement on Italian architecture. All I can say is that the buildings I have captured are both beautiful and terrible at the same time. Back in the days many architects tried to come up with the best solution for housing many people in big blocks. Many of the ideas did not work out well and became examples of failed architecture. I visited some of those unsuccessful projects and while some are big grey and ugly blocks, some are very beautiful and well preserved. But all have in come that their architecture doesn’t reflect human needs in an appropriate way and it can be painful to live in those huge concrete deserts with so many other people. I was trying to capture some of the ideas architects came up with and how, over time, inhabitants tried to improve their surroundings by fixing the architects mistakes.
It seems that your works draw from from other disciplines: a mix of grapfhic, design,
vintage photography. What does inspire you?
All of these disciplines inspire me and my work is sometthing like a mixing of the influences I collect.
We hear you’re also an avid musician. Does music influence your works?
Music is my biggest influence, it does inspire whatever I’m doing and the way I dress and the way I cut my hair and so on. (Electronic) underground music has always been the most important art for me and has shaped my way of life, so it also has an influence on my photographic work in a way.
Your images are minimalist but colorful. They are permeated by a blinding light. What is
the role of color in you projects?
Colour is one of the connecting links throughout my work and one of the key components of my photography. All I can say is that I love colours and colour combinations and I often miss something when I look at black and white photos.
Last question: what are your plans for your future?
For the future I hope to stay as independent as I’m right now. I only want to do the jobs that I’m interested in and to work on my own projects and get paid for doing what I enjoy. I would also love to release more books, and work together with other creatives more often.
