Every summer, young people from around the world flock to Berlin in hopes of living out their techno-fuelled dreams. The German capital, with its unwavering reputation as the go-to destination for club kids, has created a generation of people bewildered by the energy, allure and hedonism in the metropolis. For those unable to experience the uniqueness of a Berlin summer first-hand, one photographer is honestly documenting what it’s like to be young in the city.
Though she spends most days working 9-5, during her free time Carolin Hirt is quite the photographer. Forgoing the digital world, she prefers to shoot her friends entirely in analogue. Doing this, Hirt succeeds in avoiding social media and its unrealistic portrayals of youth and beauty. This is vital for the young Berliner as she strives to maintain authenticity in every image.
This Friday, Hirt will host her first Berlin exhibition at BAM on Ritterstrasse 9. Entitled “The unbearable perfection of life”, the show will feature all of the emotion characteristic of her work.
The photographs – taken over the course of 12 months – serve as a visual diary, allowing spectators to gain an intimate look at Hirt’s close circle of friends amidst a life of lakeside vacations and, of course, Berghain. More importantly however, the images also offer a sincere glimpse at Berlin’s youth, without the filters and double-tapping. When asked about the motivations behind her work, Hirt says: “With my pictures, I hope to convey honest feelings and emotions. A lot of my work is very personal and I would never capture a contrived moment.”
For those unable to make it to the event, scroll through the images below for a closer look from home:
More information on “The unbearable perfection of life” is available on the event’s Facebook