Berlin

Origins, 2024, Berlin

My German is getting better but most people answer me in English haha .The coffee is wirklich toll (really great) and there seem to be at least 3 cafes in every block.

SomoS Berlin is perfect for me. It is an easy and relaxed environment, dinners with the others if you feel like it. We take turns cooking and the kitchen is big and well equipped.

The other artists are Heny, graphic novelist from Seoul, Nikolas, sculptor from the Netherlands, Allision, an indigenous poet from Australia, and Gabriela is a German painter who now lives in Vancouver. Gabriela’s grandfather was in the SS and killed lots of Jews and her studio is next to mine. We have talked about our family histories and I think it is an amazing opportunity for understanding.

My studio is also my living space and I like it. I have big window that look down onto the street, Kottbusser Damm. I am making lots of work and writing. I got some clay and have been doing some small sgraffito sculptures and slabs. I chose not to work in the clay studio 20 minutes from here because I thought they were assholes and it would be a pain to work there. So I am making my stuff at SomoS and walking it 2 blocks to a small studio that will fire stuff for me.

I have been to the research center at the Jewish museum- an incredible place- and they are helping me in some of my searches for unknown names and addresses. I discovered yesterday the my great grandfather is buried in the overgrown cemetery here so I will be going to see if I can find his stone. There’s a lot say about all that- very emotional. I keep saying that I feel both at home and like a stranger here. I love it here and it feels familiar and exciting and for an artist it a great place to be. I already know I will be coming back.