Free Portraits
One glimps, one posture, one mood - as obvious as one moment may seem, as little it may reveal about the complex substance of a human. Yet it was properly this sincere expression, that composes this person at least for that very instant.
Moments are evanescent, as humans and their conduct are.
My task is never to create an entire portrayal. To the contrary I try to generate an inductive sensation: in terms of moments shaped by true emotions which may appear trivial implying a never completed image.
Doing so I'm performing detail work wherewith a conclusion to the big picture may be drawn. I study the human on the smallest level via that one specific snap of his temporary Me. That recording, that glimpse are merely an atomic brick of the molecule that defines the chemistry of his soul. Maybe the only composition no one will ever be capable to describe entirly.
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When Filip wrote me (via Cousurfing) that he didn't have a common home on hand, I didn't really know
what was expecting me. Lastly I accepted, so he picked me up from Ragusa Ibla at night. After a short time
on paved roads and a long time on forest path we stopped on the margin of a field. From there on only the stars were lighten up our trail to the bivouac. It was the first time I spent the night in the wilderness.
Filip lives in that encampment together with four like-minded people for already five years. The self-described naturalists live basicly self-sufficiently not avoiding civilization. They even own smartphones and the like and patronize bars and restaurants in the city.
- Wilderness around Ragusa Ibla, 2016
Yet before I passed his quarter midst the Vucciria to meet him personally, it couldn’t slip my attention what Uwe left behind on the walls of the hood. “UWE TI AMA”, in English, ‘Uwe loves you’ is just one of the phrases that decorates the steadily mouldering sandstone murals.
The Austrian artist fell in love with the Sicilian poverty quarter in Palermo many years ago, since than he leaves it rarely. When I asked Uwe, why he could never live again in Germany or Austria, he answered with a nearly huffy obviousness and Austrian arrogance: "Weil’s hässlich is‘, potthässlich, schlimmer als der Tod dort oben!", what means: 'Because it sucks, it really really sucks. It’s worse than death up there!'
- Palermo, 2016
It was the last lew weekend before autumn would break in. We milked it. The last barbecue.
Two weeks later would have been grandma’s birthday. She didn’t know it. There were few things she didn’t forget. She stroke her hair when she saw my camera. But this too, got off her mind the next instant. Three Days later her heart released her from oblivion.
My grandma passed away at the age of 79 because of sudden heart failure, after suffering several years from a very aggressive form of Alzheimer’s.
- Stein, 2015
The Sicilian noonday heat although seeming overwhelming, is probably not the gravest burden the beach vendors have to endore at midsummer. Even though all of their income passes the exchequer, the illicit work barely lasts to secure the bread line. They mostly come as illegal immigrants from North- or Westafrica, Bangladesh or Pakistan. Since the change of government and the rise of the right-wing populist Lega Nord with Matteo Salvini holding the interior ministry, the controls on Italy’s beaches were expanded massively. So this woman too, with every plaited wisp of hair of her young customer suffers from the fear to get caught in the authorities' clutches.
Mondello, 2018
„Auge“ (in English: eye) has many friends but his very best one lives, contrarily to him with a roof over his head namely in a shoe box. “Kampf dem Kapital”, in English, 'fight capitalism' and “ACAB” are gracing his shabby denim jacket. Every stereotype gets confirmed: Auge boozes, smokes and consumes drugs. He is noisy, churlish, scruffy. Nevertheless he greets kindly – almost childish, ingenuous he wishes a nice day to everybody also to those who don’t even deign to look at him.
- Nuremberg, 2015
The greatest and most challenging division of martial arts worldwide, the UFC – Jessin Ayari has reached his goal and seems more unbent and balanced than ever. After his first training session of the day we rest on the mats talking about times gone by, how it all started and whereto it should go. The next fight is at the ready and Jessin is in top shape. Today it is as obvious as always: There’s no place Jessin feels better than on the mats.
Jessin Ayari is one of seven German fighters currently competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championsship, briefly UFC.
- Fight Gym, Nuremberg, 2018
The Badass-Granny
- Pesaro, 2013
