Berlin

“the molecules of all human beings coming together to create our existence”

This is how artist, sculptor and designer, Johnathan Borofsky explained his sculpture “the molecule man”, Berlin and the world. If you have ever seen it in person you can understand its magnificence. It is 30 meters tall; it sits on the Spree in Treptower Park directly facing into the Mitte. It is made up of three steel figures that may seem like they are fighting but they are actually holding eachother up. The figures have punctures throughout their bodies, to symbolize the molecules that make us up.

Built in 1999, it symbolized the intersection of the then 3 districts: Treptower, Kreuzberg and Friedrichschain. It continues to symbolize the continuous growth of Berlin as “a reminder of the fact that both people and molecules exist in a world governed by probability and we are just trying to find wholeness and unity within the world”, according to Borofsky.

That is what I tried to depict in my photos through a sense of co-existing and thriving together. There is a theme of congregation and community, which is what I experienced during my time in Berlin. Usually this would take place in green spaces, transportation or even a funky cafe. I wanted to examine how we, as tiny molecules in the world interact with our surroundings and make them our own.

I struggled at first with how I could factually call the people of my photos “Berliners”, unless I interviewed them and asked. How then was I supposed to measure how long someone has to be living in Berlin in order to call themselves a Berliner. If they had lived there their whole lives, two years or 8 months? That is when I realized that we are all the molecules that make up Berlin through our interactions and co-existing and so we are all partly Berliners.

Berlin is a touristic city and thrives off of tourists so I realized that in my images I couldn’t label exactly who was a Berliner or not depict tourists. At that exact moment we all made up Berlin. An example: image of the Reichstag dome (#6). It is a touristic attraction but in actuality it is an icon of Germany and its parliament, as well as of the Berlin skyline. It is a depiction of people thriving in their surroundings and its symbolic nature.

If you have ever been to Berlin hopefully these photos remind you of your memories you may have had with the wonderful people that make up the city because in the end we are all at least partly Berliners. And if you have never been, I hope someday you venture out to explore this amazing city and always remember we are just molecules trying to come together to create our existence in the world.

Berlin, GER - 2017