zehn.kilometer // ten.kilometers
is a project, which developed very naturally and intuitively. It started when the safety measures to
preventing covid to spread were quite strict in Germany. Because of my choice to hold onto the liberty to decide for myself of how intensely I am going to comply into certain measures, I certainly had to face the consequences of this choice.
Despite the fact, that I followed any rule and was not trying to convince anybody else, I nevertheless was confronted with some quite severe situations of exclusion. I decided to turn the other cheek and keep on looking at the beautiful and bright side of this experience. Like in photography – which only exists through contrast – there is also beauty to be found in dark times. Exclusion also meant, that I had no longer access to certain public facilities and public spaces, such as restaurants, cafés and bars – so what is left, when you are starting to feel like you’re no longer a part of society? I could not do any different than to find other ways to spend my time, enjoy my life and give this situation any purpose.
I am aware that this time was very memorable for everyone.
I am aware that everyone can tell a very unique story about it.
But it was my way to focus on the things I was still allowed to do and move to where I was welcome – and by that into the direction of joy.
Sometimes I felt most safe and welcome in nature – so I went there for long walks and I began to take pictures with my cellphone during these strolls: of things, situations, scenes, light etc. – anything I valued in that moment. I shared these pictures in my instagram-stories. What in the beginning has been a method that worked as a bridge from dark thoughts to a lighter heart, developed into a lovely project: ten.kilometers // zehn.kilometer.
[the name of this project is self-explanatory since I walked around ten kilometers during these walks]
