OSTKREUZ was among the few European collectives which in May were invited to Madrid for the Meeting of Euro-American Photographic Collectives (E.CO), including a symposium, a huge group display and a screening in the historic city. Afterwards we took part in a workshop in Soria and the subsequent exhibition in the town centre.
After our arrival in Madrid a driver picked us up and brought us to a nice hotel in the city centre. Three mornings we joined in round table discussions at the Spanish Ministry of Culture, discussing topics such as financing, marketing and production of self-assigned stories of collectives. In the afternoon presentations of the various collectives took place, in the course of which Linn Schröder and I spoke about the agency as well as the exhibition and book projects ›Ostzeit‹ and ’The City’. The second evening many people attended the opening of an exhibition on the subject of the environment, including Maurice Weiss’ series on the Bikini Atoll, Andrej Krementschouk’s project on Tschernobyl and my work on the nuclear power reactor in Greifswald and the Asse II pit. It took place at a former tobacco factory in the city centre, a nice location, comparable to C/O Berlin. The third and last evening of our stay in Madrid a big screening, including a selection of our ›Ostzeit‹ project, took place on a nice small square in the historical district.
The following morning a coach brought us to Soria. Having checked in at our hotel, we were invited to a welcome lunch with the mayor and took part in a meeting about the workshop and exhibition at the former main building of the Bank of Spain. We spent the following two days taking pictures during the day and preparing the prints for the exhibition in the evening. Unfortunately I had to leave a day early so that I couldn’t take part in the opening.
Taking part in the E.CO meeting in Madrid and the workshop in Soria was an inspiring experience, permitting us to establish contact with European and Latin American collectives.
Thomas Meyer
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On the road - E.CO Madrid
28.06.2010 | | On the road -
...in Moscow
21.12.2009 | | On the roadDear reader,
we apologize that we are only able to offer this post in German.
Please use one of the translation programs on the internet (e.g. Google Transator) to translate the text into English.
Your sincerely,
The Ostkreuz blog team
Hallo, heute melde ich von der letzten Station meiner Reise, Moskau. Es ist grau und kalt und es schneit. Aber die meiste Zeit bin ich sowieso unter Tage, den ich fotografiere in der Metro von Moskau, die zu den berühmtesten weltweit zählt. Das glaube ich sofort. Ihre Architektur ist einfach überwältigend.
© Frank Schinski/OSTKREUZ
Sergej, der Fotograf in Moskau ist, hat mir assistiert. Ohne wäre es fast unmöglich gewesen zu den Bildern zu kommen. Die meisten Moskwitschi erscheinen mir ziemlich misstrauisch und niemand spricht wirklich englisch.
am aller wenigsten die Security. Sascha hatte ihn mir empfohlen
Achja: Ich habe bei Sascha und seiner Familie übernachtet. Sie waren sehr sehr nett. Er ist ein Freund von Andrej Krementschouk, total fotobegeistert und Architekt.
Die Stadt hinterlässt auf mich einen »harten« Eindruck, mitunter trifft man Bettler, die nicht nach einem oder zwei Euro fragen, sondern gleich fünf Euro haben möchten.
Was soll ich sagen, zwiegespalten,
der Frank -
Ushuaia – Youth at the end of the world
15.12.2009 | | On the roadAfter two weeks in Ushuaia, the most Southern city of the world on Tierra del Fuego in Argentina, I am leaving the city today with a backpack full of undeveloped film rolls. I look forward to spending a few days in Buenos Aires without having to wear warm socks, after which I will return to the freezing German winter.
© Jörg Brüggemann/OSTKREUZ
In 1975 Bruce Chatwin wrote in his classic travel novel "In Patagonia" that Ushuaia is a childless city with residents whose faces have turned blue from the cold and who cast unfriendly glances at strangers. Today the blue faces are still there, as the climate on Tierra del Fuego has not become more pleasant in the last thirty years. Ushuaia is, however, neither childless nor are its residents unfriendly anymore. Shortlyy after Chatwin’s visit a free trade zone was established which led to fast urban development. Whereas in 1975 there were 7000 people living in Ushuaia, today it hosts nearly 60 000 inhabitants. Most of them are young families which arrived from the north of Argentina looking for work and with them thousands of children who now crowd Ushuaia’s streets and parks.
The young people shape the face of the city and they are also the reason why I came here to take pictures. I wanted to know what it was like being young while living at the end of the world.
© Jörg Brüggemann/OSTKREUZ
Rarely have I ever been welcomed so openly and friendly like here in Ushuaia and it was interesting to witness that globalization has also reached the end of the world. Like everywhere else, young people in Ushuaia spend a lot of time in front of their computers, hang out with friends at skate parks or play in rock bands. I do not know what Bruce Chatwin would have thought about this development but I have certainly felt a little bit at home.
Nevertheless it is time to say goodbye, as my plane is arriving. Hasta La Proxima, Ushuaia. -
...from London.
03.12.2009 | | On the roadI did fly from Istanbul directly to London. I'm here for a few days now and all the time I'm out, taking pictures. My main hunting grounds are the Heathrow Airport and the "tube".
© Frank Schinski/OSTKREUZ
After nearly two weeks „on the road“ I'm a little worn out. The speaker announcements "All unattended luggage will be removed and destroyed" and "mind the gap between the door and the platform" make me cringe. I just can't hear them anymore. Photography is also much more difficult here than in Istanbul. People are not eager at all, to become a part in the history of photography through my pictures. And I have to mention it: the weather is typical English ...
But the coin got an other side as well. I did reunite with old friends. They welcomed me and gave me a home for several days. And they have brought closer to me the intricacies of English cuisine.
But right now I am happy to go home for a few days. Next week I will travel to Moscow and I have to prepare for that. So long. -
... from Istanbul
26.11.2009 | | On the roadToday I report from Istanbul in Turkey. I'm here to shoot for an upcoming exhibition project by OSTKREUZ. I have chosen this city, because it is the largest transportation hub in the country and Istanbul unites the continents of Europe and Asia.
© Frank Schinski/OSTKREUZ
The basic prerequisites for a successful stay are all given: the hotel is okay and cheap, the kebap and the weather are usually good.
I take pictures at the bus station Esenler, the largest in Europe. Unbelievable, how many buses arrive and leave from here every day. But beyond this chaos seems to exist an ordering principle. The people are very freindly and egaer to be photographedand. I've also learned that the luggage compartment of a overland bus is as large as the stomach of a whale and holds tons of suitcases, boxes, parcels and bags.
I am particularly proud of my new name. All carpet dealers, vendors and leather jacket dealers just call me "my friend". I hope that, when I'm back home, I will react, when someone calls me "Frank Schinski".
The next stop for me will be London. I'm really excited and report again from there. -
Telegram from Ufa
25.09.2009 | | On the roadDear reader,
we apologize that we are only able to offer this post in German.
Please use one of the translation programs on the internet (e.g. Google Transator) to translate the interview into English.
Your sincerely,
The Ostkreuz blog teamDienstag, 22.9., Flughafen Berlin-Tegel, 12:25 Uhr.
Linn Schröder und ich, Heinrich Völkel, sitzen in einem startenden Flugzeug, das uns via Moskau nach Ufa in Russland bringen wird. Hier im Südural werden wir als Referenten einen Workshop betreuen, der "Wie fotografiert man Veränderung - Jugend im Islam" zum Thema haben wird. Mit uns reisen vier Foto-Studenten aus Deutschland. Florian Oellers (Ostkreuz-Schule), Lia Darjes, Nele Gülck und Johannes Mengel (alle HTW Hamburg) werden zusammen mit 11 Nachwuchsfotografen aus Ufa und ganz Russland 4 Tage lang zum Thema arbeiten und fotografieren. Ankunft 2:15 Uhr im Hotel.
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Manila
21.09.2009 | | On the road
Manila, the capital of the Philippines, has estimated 20 million inhabitants. The majority of the people of this city, because of the lack of land reform, migrated from the countryside to the city. Their life here in Manila is poor, but compared with life in the province often better. The people here settle in every conceivable corner, that the city provides as possible occupations (hence the term "squatter area"): port facilities, at the course of rivers, bridges, actually everywhere.
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Visa Pour L´Image
09.09.2009 | | On the roadThe "Visa Pour L'Image Photo Festival" in Perpignan/France is probably the most important festival for photojournalistic photography. For five days OSTKREUZ photographer Thomas Meyer, the office representatives Andrea Schewe, Joerg Brueggemann and Christoph Wilde were among the collectives to represent OSTKREUZ at the festival. At the same time, the "24hBerlin" book was presented at C/O Berlin, so that many OSTKREUZ photographers unfortunately could not join the event. A lot of picture editors looked at the photo booklets, which were produced especially for this event - and optioned a few features. The new website was introduced there as well, and pleased at once. To summarize the trip: It was good to have been there - have met old friends again and have gained some new ones.
© OSTKREUZ
