Photo: Anatomie Fleur by Linus Muellerschoen.
For almost two weeks, Berlin life has been slowing down and adjusting to the coronavirus outbreak. Businesses have shuttered their doors, public gatherings have been banned and strict restrictions have been implemented should you leave your house. In the midst of working from home, social distancing and self-isolation, we’ve been thinking about what some of our favourite artists have been getting up to without a world outside to explore and extract inspiration from.
Speaking to a range of Berlin-based creatives, working across art, photography, choreography and fashion, we asked them about their survival strategies—in what ways the pandemic has affected their output and opportunities, and how, despite it all, they are learning new ways to cope and be creative in crisis. Many are turning to self-reflection, or seizing the opportunity to work on personal projects such as updating their websites. Others are abandoning social media and reaching out to friends and family instead. More are finding alternative routines and being hopeful for the possibility of a new future, where things may be better for all, while most are taking time to rest and allow the surrealism of the situation to sink in.
Spyros Rennt — photographer
Photo: Spyros Rennt.
“Ever since Covid-19 started affecting public life in Berlin, all the jobs I had for the two next months got cancelled—a book fair I would attend in Paris has been postponed and the projects I was involved in have been paused. This is my reality, but the same applies (in variations) for the various creatives in my circle. I have spent the last couple of weeks mostly at home: reading, watching movies, cooking for myself, going on walks and of course, watching the news and communicating with friends from all over. I can’t say I have been productive as I haven’t been in the headspace for it, but also because I find the idea of “making the most out of the quarantine” a bit oppressive; it’s an unprecedented crisis after all, laying on my bed and staring at the ceiling is just as good of a reaction. I am confident that there will be a flow of money from the city of Berlin towards creative freelancers; we are after all, the backbone of this city.”
Keiken — art collective
“Two of us have lost our main income due to Covid-19 as well as a lot of postponements and uncertainties for exhibitions, workshops and performances. It has caused a lot of anxiety but it also has allowed us to build from the inside again. Being inner is beautiful and this time is great for reevaluation, self-reflection and having time to create.
Our top five tips would be:
—Learn to be multi-channel and multi-platform on online spaces, for example, explore all the digital tools (Instagram, own website, micro-site, twitch, IGTV, Skype) and get creative with them
—Create a routine to keep you sane and to help with self-confidence and care
—Remind yourself that learning to adapt to changes is an invaluable skill and be proud of yourself for this
—This is a great opportunity to deconstruct the current system, so think about what you think works in this world and what changes could be made (this could be anything!)
—Share your knowledge and create tutorials, this is a great time to learn new things and unlearn things that no longer serve you and society!”
Bastian Thiery — photographer
“After a week, that felt like a seven-day long Sunday (I don’t really like Sundays), I now take a walk every day and take pictures while walking. Also, I’m slowly going through my archive and finalising my new website. And I’m taking part in a visual conversation at www.stayathome.photography. It’s a website that reflects on the current state through exchanges between pairs of photographers.”
Kiani del Valle — choreographer
Photo: Kiani Del Valle by Tom Andrew.
“This time could feel overwhelming, especially because is a problem bigger than ourselves. However, it’s important to remind ourselves that we are all in this together. It feels like the perception of what is important is slowly changing for me. It gives me hope to think that our sociological structures will shift from here and we will not be the same after this. Personally, the quarantine has gave me time for self-reflection, to really meditate where I am and where I am going, allowing myself to get deep into my body and have long meditating sessions, stretching sessions and solo dancing sessions. I have the time now to conceptualise projects that I have had in a drawer for a long time, and have been in contact with friends and family members I lost touch with a while a go. Most importantly, I have found it fascinating how our work can completely change into a virtual and purely technological approach—to me that is equally beautiful and devastating and I am trying to find curiosity within that juxtaposition to develop new ways of movement. But also. I think it is crucial that we also practice disconnection from our phones and computers and more so now that we need this virtual world so much to get our daily information and do any kind of work. Write your daily to-do list on paper, draw your calendar on a board, read a book, paint, dance, play the piano, clean the house, work out, bake and do analogue things that can also remind you who we were before this technological world.”
Anna-Lena Krause—photographer
Photo: Anna-Lena Krause.
“For me, it’s important to have some kind of routine so that I don’t feel like I am losing complete control. It’s a time to think and feel, to refocus our attention. I try to keep myself busy by using the time to do things I have wanted to do for years but never found the time for. Learning a new skill is a great way to challenge yourself. Instead of feeling trapped in our confinement, we should all take this time to grow despite the limitations.”
Anatomie Fleur — floral artists
Photo: Anatomie Fleur by Linus Muellerschoen.
“This period is a very interesting and challenging time for creatives. It encourages contemplation, stepping back from your routine, rethink it, extend it, find new ways… Regarding our practice, flower art is a language and we are considering to use video support to communicate our floral message. Beside that, we are working on a new line of exquisite and unique vases where flowers would be a integral part of the sculpture, with Paris based ceramicist and artist, Rosaly Chave. Of course, it is difficult to not be in contact with our beloved florals, especially during spring. It will make us appreciate their beauty even more when we are free to leave our houses.”
CROSSLUCID — artist duo
“We feel it’s time for us to abandon the exploitative structures, to revolt and break out of the social inertia we have been in for quite a while now. Through re-connecting with each other we need to find a way for collective re-enchantment and tentacular co-existence in this challenging reality. We focus, exchange with our community, reflect, read, learn new things, scrutinise our value systems and prioritise projects and discourses that are dear and meaningful to us. Future is uncertain but now we have time to reimagine what it can become —on our terms.”
Olive Duran — stylist
“I find these times really dark and the first couple of days I found myself watching series that make me feel good. I’m out of that repetitive hole now and I’ve started to think and reflect on what I found—I want to refresh my creative vision, so I’m giving my home a total makeover, going through old work, organising my styling kit, baking, up-cycling old clothes and tidying up my website. The more time I spend on working on myself the better I feel about this eerie situation. ALSO—I am somehow spending way less time now on social media. Maybe it’s because I don’t want to be bombarded with bad news, or maybe it’s because I couldn’t care less what everyone is cooking. Either way I’m happy to be off it more.”
Stefanie Heinze — painter
Photo: Stefanie Heinze.
“In the beginning, I was constantly checking coronavirus news and social media. I noticed that I got all anxious and nervous. Now, after more than a week of self-isolation and physical distancing, that disappeared while I was basically sleeping 9-10 hours every night. I’m happy that me and my wonderful partner are cooking so much every day, we are trying out lots of new recipes and having lots of fun dancing in the kitchen. I got thrown out of my fast routines of embellishing myself and of producing work. I forgot how much I love having a cup of coffee in the morning sun on the balcony or to simply just sit and think. Isn’t it funny once the pace of capitalism slows down, it is okay to be tired? I feel like I slept it all out. I start stretching again and slowly finding my way to the studio.”