a friend is a friend of a friend

In the last couple of years acquaintances and networks have been discussed in the media excessively. These local connections seemed charming and were the save havens as anti-poles to the impending threats of globalisation.
This project was running for four years and took me to all the friends that aren't constantly present but to whom one could produce a closeness with modern forms of technology.
In 1998 I started my foray that led me from Berlin around the globe to friends, their friends and friends of their friends. This succession was ended in Warsaw in June 2002.
The artistic method is nearly classical: all portraits are handheld shots made with a vintage Rolleiflex 6 x 6 camera, model 1937. I spent a day with the friends I met and took photographs of them in their everyday surroundings, preferably their apartments. The people are relaxed sitting in their favourite furniture or in front of their private insignia – a record player, a living room couch or a desert.
Eight photos per person are taken of which one is selected. Lines of friends and friends of friends are formed through the specific histories that advance from person to person – from friend to friend. Saying goes that there is a connection from one person in the world to any other through six friends and friends' friends. The primary contact cannot foresee this connection.
In my project lines of friends are documented based on reference: "My friends are your friends!". Each person knows their friend but never the complete line. At the end over 340 persons became part of the net and have been preserved on film.

In those four years I traveled through 19 countries and 40 cities and photographed more than 340 friends.

countries:
Australia / Canada / China / England / Finland / France / Germany / Iceland / Italy / Israel / Japan /Mexico / Poland / Portugal / Spain / Sweden / Switzerland / USA / Vietnam

cities:
Barcelona / Beijing / Berlin / Brisbane / Hanoi / Helsinki / Hong Kong / Jakobstaad / Kempten / Krakow / Kyoto / Lisbon / London / Los Angeles / Madrid / Melbourne / Mexico City / Montreal / Munich / New York City / Nuernberg / Osaka / Paris / Rome / Reykjavik / San Francisco / San Miguel de Allende / Seattle / Shanghai / Skräfa / Stuttgart / Stockholm / Sydney / Tel Aviv / Tepotzlan / Tokyo / Toronto / Vancouver / Warsaw / Zurich

Through this journey I discovered undreamt but influenced relations between people around the world. I underline the invisible global links far away from the much -beloved world around running communication machine internet.
In many cities I met people, who didn’t know each other, but where living in the same city, but through whom I got guided through different connections. The final of phase one, took place in form of an exhibition in Berlin, from where I started the project.
Not only photographed friends from Berlin came, but also as many “project friends”, who watched the project through the pictures. Some came as their friends where telling them that they could be seen over there as they got photographed in one of the traveled counties.
Every person is telling their story and is connected to others.

In phase two this started net should continue to be weaved, by taking back the exhibition of the pictures and journeys to it’s origin. Friendships who started through friends and theirs friends, should become deeper and they should get introduced to each other. That what I took with me should be giving back.
The “ giving back” of the pictures should be an induce for the possibility to develop new projects. The first “re travel” went to Tel Aviv and London.
For me the essential basis of a net is not only the taking but also the active participation: the giving, to keep it up.

My goal for this project is the publication in form of a book. I wish to give a lot of people the possibility, to take a look at the project, not just digital, but long-lasting, printed on paper.
I wish to give into anybody's hands a piece of contemporary history, which everybody can find his own interpretation for. The possibility to look again and again at the photographs and stories, to dive into each photo with a new approach and to give courage to through yourself into a journey. The thoughts and dreams are free!

My target group are friends and friends of friends. Those who I already photographed and who became part of the project.
Many new participants can become part of the project, like those whose curiosity got directed to this site and who wish to start themselves an undefined journey...

Because it gives you the possibility to sent your own fantasy on a journey. By holding a book in your hands you can again and again dive into the photos and stories, pause and give your thoughts the space they need. The way how I did this project and how I photographed can give you the courage, to sent yourself on a journey, and give yourself the chance to listen and to follow your own inner voice.

In 1998 I decided to dedicate myself from now on the topic of time and human beings and to give it a new definition. I don’t want to feel hunted and to rush through live without looking left or right. I want to meet one another and to come with time, which is needed. I am interested in people and their stories. How could you easier get to them, then by a visit at their homes. As a memory to this meeting I did one picture and delivered further on the idea of an alive messenger.

I want to share this wonderful experience with more and more people and I know that my book can deliver a hint of this.

In case of successfully funding I will print the book for the project "a friend is a friend of a friend" with a small edition, high quality print (offset, hand-sewn binding and exposed binding cover)

In case of surplus fund I would be more than glad to support my wonderful team (graphic designer, lithograph, translator, web designer and web programmer and the team of the pitch movie). Without the help of these wonderful people I could have never down the book and the crowd funding campaign. So far they helped for almost nothing!

Any help and support is very much appreciated. I am very thankful for the help that you give in order to get this project "a friend is a friend of a friend" printed for a long term memory for all of you.