Blurred People at Kotti

My Kotti, the Kottbusser Tor: ‘Squatter neighbourhood, Little Istanbul, drug scene, artists‘ and scene district: the Kottbusser Tor has seen a lot. You can see it, hear it and smell it. But the centre of the Kreuzberg district SO36 is also a diverse and characteristic place with many great bars, restaurants, culture and history,’ as Berlin’s TIP magazine describes it.
I lived nearby for a long time and was both annoyed and delighted. Everything.

Now I’ve come up with a mini project and am taking Kotti pictures, pinhole camera photos with Kotti and people coming and going, with short (1 second) and long (20 seconds) exposure times.
I used two different Illy cameras with different sized holes! Two different apertures (260 and 533) which results in – under bright sunshine condition – exposure times of 2 seconds and 10 seconds.

Here are two from yesterday (bad scan), the first sunny and mild day after a long, grey and freezing cold winter!

Rummaging Through My Archive

In preparation for my feature-length film ‘Khani’s Reise’ (Khanis Journey), I rummage through my archive for old travel clips from when we were travelling in the USA and Canada 20 years ago.

I have a bunch of Super 8 films from that time, some of which have been digitised, some of which haven’t! This will be the start of the new film, as an introduction, so to speak.

Some loops here:

Got A Stipend!

Cheers! Got a stipend! For a medium long film project. From the wonderful Berlin Funding programme for artists in film/video.
(The funding is intended for artists (women and trans, inter and non-binary people) who have already completed their artistic training and/or who can prove that they have been working as a filmmaker for several years. The work grant amount to € 2,000 per month. They are usually awarded for a period of four to six months depending on the specific requirements of the project – subject to the availability of funds. (I got 4 months!))

Hänsel & Gretel And A Long Winter

Not much has happened the last week … I’m a bit ill, with a cold and cough, but I’m still walking through wintry, freezing, snowy Berlin.

I had a scanning appointment for my many pinhole camera negatives and realised once again: when the world, people and politics depress me, pictures fill my heart with a smile and gentle confidence.

This strange Hänsel and Gretel photo: me and my friend-who-flies-around-in-an-unknown-universe. … Fixing error? Minor solarisation? Sticky fingers? Black stars twinkling? I don’t know… but I find it mysterious and beautiful.

2026 is here!

Yes, I’m really lucky: I have a mother who lives near the Baltic Sea (in north-west Germany) and I have good friends with a house behind the dunes on the Baltic Sea in north-east Germany! One for Christmas, one for New Year’s Eve!

I had the idea of throwing a message in a bottle into the sea at point A and then fishing it out a week later at point B. Unfortunately, I didn’t do it because I was lazy … It would have been a message to myself and maybe a good idea for a film … Damn! More films this year …

2026 Yeah!

Gleitet alle hübsch und entspannt und halbbetrunken ins neue frische Jahr 2026!
皆さん、リラックスして、ほろ酔い気分で、2026年の新たな年を迎えましょう！
¡Entren todos relajadas, tranquilos y medio borrachos en el nuevo y fresco año 2026!
Slide into the fresh new year 2026 feeling relaxed and slightly tipsy!
2026 అనే కొత్త సంవత్సరంలోకి ప్రశాంతంగా, కొద్దిగా మత్తులో జారుకుందాం!
(I love you, deepl!)

(click me!)

Kunstverein Neukölln And 4 Green Dots For #93!

A wonderful little charity event for the Kunstverein Neukölln – a self-managed gallery where I have already been part of a few film events. Lots of artist friends were able to exhibit one work and half of the proceeds go to the Kunstverein.

I have a pinhole camera picture hanging there, ‘Tempelhofer Feld: Skater’, developed in Spreegurkenwasser (spicy cucumber water), vitamin C and washing soda. 120 €.

And you know what? Four green dots! Four sold (each one is hand-developed and unique, they always turn out slightly different …). The exhibition runs until mid-January, so maybe I’ll sell some more, hooorray!