Berlin Logs September 2015 by Berlin Logs

LIVING ON PROSTITUTE LANE

LE PUSTRA, THE FUTURE OF CABARET

There’s a creeping chaos to this street, which is unnerving, but just at first. Page 23

Le Pustra is fascinated by Berlin: its history of Cabaret in 20s, freedom of sexuality. Page 12

Berlin Logs €2 INTERNSHIP CON HOW MILLENNIALS ENDED UP WORKING FOR FREE One has only to start asking around groups of 20-somethings about internship horror stories to become inundated with material.

Vol: 01 Issue: 04 | Berlinlogs.com | September 2015.

Berlin Logs

SEPTEMBER CONTENTS

What’s New: Musikfest, Heritage Day & Tresor Berlin

Internship Con - How Millennials Ended Up Working For Free

Language Learning -When Immersion Won’t Come to You

From the deep: crawl eyes with hidden green terror

Boros Bunker: A Unique Combo of History & Art

River of People: Zug der Liebe 2015

Adornism: Union of Art and Philosophy

Getting Your BDSM Bearings at Café Endlos

Le Pustra, the future of cabaret in Berlin

Hungry? Get Your Teeth Into The Bite Club

Opera on Tap: Encapsulating The Quirky Talent

German Freelancer Visa: A Guide to Surviving

Team

A Word

Managing Editor:

This month Berlin Logs is torn between hope and despair. We are at once embracing the possibility of snaring a visa (30) to make the Berlin dream a (firmer) reality and struggling with the knowledge that getting paid for your work, for most of the city’s under 35’s is an oasis (see 16). Berlin, that wonderful, ephemeral beast that continues to draw people from across the world, just isn’t always that easy to live in, especially when you’re trying to do something different, but as Le Pustra, performance artist and cabaret superstar explains (12), when life chucks you off a cliff, you tend to end up in Berlin.

Sarah Coughlan Editors:

Eileen Carelock Lily Cichanowicz Art Editor:

Hazel Rowland Sasha Prince Founder:

Daniyal Waseem

Berlin Logs. Habsburger Str 10, 10781. Berlin + 49 (0)30 982 942 02 info@berlinlogs.com www.berlinlogs.com

That’s not to say that our enduring love affair with the city is over of course. In September you’ll also find a guide to Berlin’s best casual opera (not an oxymoron, apparently over on 14) and an on-the-ground-view of the Love Parade in Berlin (24). We’ve also got cheap eats (28) and the lowdown on BDSM nights in the city (26). As if that isn’t enough, we’ve also got our first installment of The Tattletale Heart, our new column on sex, love, dating and disasters in Berlin. That should be enough to keep you warm this month.

The Berlin Logs Team

Berlin Logs

Our Berlin: Still Poor, But is it Still Sexy? By Eileen Carelock

o the outsider coming in, rough-edged, smart-mouthed Berlin with its grime and its graffiti, its punks and its parties, not to mention its “work to live, not live to work” attitude, it’s easy to feel like you’ve discovered that pulsing, untapped vein of youthful vitality, a true coalition of creativity and chaos. “Berlin is poor, but sexy”—those decade-ago words of former mayor Klaus Wowereit helped usher in a new era of creative influx for the struggling local economy, welcoming artists, writers, musicians, and more recently, tech and web entrepreneurs. They’re drawn by the siren call of cheap housing and office space amidst this effortlessly hip, rough-and-tumble wonderland—high living at low cost. Need I say more? The thing is, it’s real poverty that set the stage. Post-Wall Berlin was a hot mess of unconsolidated East/West businesses in need of rehabilitation, and the city, lacking in an industrial / manufacturing base, faced depressingly high unemployment. The city was relying on financial support from wealthier southern states like Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The eternal problem child, and the rest of Germany was forever eyeing Berlin and wishing it would finally get its shit together. Poverty has been a part of the Berliner way of life for so long that it’s been absorbed into the culture and the aesthetic of the people. And naturally, it’s this poverty element that informs the “cool”, the “sexy”, and that ultimately attracts the likes of us to this place. However, the sands are shifting. Today, Berlin finds itself home to more than 2,500 tech startups, including incubators and accelerators, some backed by very big names like Google and Microsoft. The city is repositioning itself as one of Europe’s fastest-growing startup hubs, its popularity bolstered by the attractive potential for “extracurricular” activities—tourism is Berlin’s 2nd largest source of income, and its hardcore party reputation is world renowned. Money is beginning to flow into Berlin, and not from handouts. Economic performance is up 17% since 2005. Job creation is at an all-time high. It’s estimated that the city is growing by 30,000 residents every year. Berlin has never been sexier, right? Alas, the unsexy consequence—you’re looking at rising rent costs and increased income disparity—the dreaded gentrification that follows in the wake of popular hipster tourism and international startup recruiting. While certain sectors are booming, the poverty rate for Berlin is still 21.5% (compared with 15.5% nationwide), according to February reports. An undeniable social divide is widening between the affluent living in the city center and the low-income and unemployed being pushed to poorer neighborhoods on the outskirts. Resentment, and sometimes outright hostility, brews amongst the population of “those who were here before”, the Old Guard, echt-Berliner or otherwise. Berlin, as a city redefining itself, seems to have begun to forget its poorer roots. Now as it finds itself becoming more popular, it’s starting to discard its old friends for newer, more attractive ones. You could say Berlin has ambition now. Ambition is sexy, right? Ambition is what focuses us, what gives our efforts direction. Ambition is what saves us from apathy. However ambition is also something that needs to be held in check, lest the city become so dazzled by the pursuit of euro-signs that they end

up compromising that rare, intangible, delightful thing that made Berlin sexy in the first place See, imitation and trying to be something you’re not is the opposite of sexy, and it’s difficult to retain a sense of identity when you’re courting the wallets of venture capitalists. That’s certainly one path Berlin can take. But is it the right one? Berlin is, in some ways, the last affordable metropolis in the world, home to a dynamic nightlife. Time flows differently from Friday night to Monday morning, during which you’re expected to party like it’s the end of the world, yet still handle your shit. It’s a place where 2030€ will buy you a night of complete excess—club entry, drinks and dancing, with a delicious döner or currywurst afterwards. The Berlin that I love is a place where money doesn’t determine good service or a good time. Even if you have money, it’s tacky to flaunt it, whether in your possessions, your activities or your clothing. Fashion here is practical first, stylish second, and the successful marrying of the two wins you points from your peers. And finally, Berlin itself is community, separate from the sometimes-insular expat and start-up bubbles. I love the “Hallos” and curt Deutsch niceties exchanged in my tiny corner of Friedrichshain, Spätis and Kindergartens, hippies and punks. Everyone always says, “But everyone speaks English in Berlin”, yet I keep discovering pockets of people speaking almost exclusively German, and I simply have to up my language game if I want to join in—a daunting prospect, but I’m determined to try and make this place my home. Stay true, Berlin. I still think you’re still sexy. For now at least.

Berlin Logs

WHAT’S NEW MUSIKFEST

2015 2ND-20TH SEPTEMBER Musikfest marks the festival season in Berlin and opens in style on the 2nd September. Running for three weeks as we wave goodbye to summer, the concert halls across the city will be filled with some of the world’s finest musicians. Find them at www.berlinerfestspiele.de

INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE FESTIVAL 9TH-19TH SEPTEMBER

Now in its 14th year the International Literature Festival is bringing together writers and readers from across the world for a celebration of language and culture. All pieces are presented in the original language but there are interpeters on hand for those fluent auf Deutsch. Find them in Mitte’s Haus Der Berliner.

LONG NIGHT OF THE START UPS 5TH SEPTEMBER

While it continues to build its reputation as the start up capital of…everywhere but Silicon Valley, Europe’s largest start up event is back with a vengeance this month. A cross between a TED Talk, a trade fair and an angel investor pitch, this is the networking event of the year for start up heads. Tickets online at: www.startupnight.de

LOLLAPOLOOZA

12TH-13TH SEPTEMBER If you’re not quite prepared to bid farewell to festival season, Lollapolooza’s first visit to Europe offers one last blow out before it is winter coat time. Bringing global headlining acts like Muse and Macklemore together with German favourites like Seeed, Beatsteaks and Deichkind, Lollapoolza is an excellent laidback festival to round of the summer. Details online at: www.lollapaloozade.com

HERITAGE DAY 13TH SEPTEMBER

Also known as the Day of the Open Monument, Berliners are invited to visit monuments not normally available to the public. Meet experts, take tours and learn about some of the culture lurking unseen in the city. There are a host of hidden treasures, see the website: www.tag-des-offenen-denkmals.de

TRESOR PRESENTS: 10 YEARS OF TECTONIC

Already promising to be a massive event, Tresor’s programme for September is enough to put any lingering thoughts of spending one’s weekend productively to rest. The 10 Years of Tectonic (including Pinch, Prevalist, 5262 and as-yet unannounced special guest) is set to be the biggest. Doors from midnight.

BERLIN MARATHON 27TH SEPTEMBER

Perhaps more of a warning than it is notice, the marathon returns this September to render the streets unworkable, buses pointless and your self-esteem in tatters. If you’re warmer hearted than us, there’s probably some joy to be had in seeing middle aged men run a fair distance. Berlin Logs will be sulking inside.

DOKU.ARTS/ ZEUGHAUSKINO

9TH –27TH SEPTEMBER Find yourself a serious slice of cultural action this September at the Deutsches Historisches Museum for an art house cinema programme par excellence. This event focuses on that most Berlin on topics – city planning, architecture and the living, breathing city streets. See one or more of 15 new documentaries examining cities, people and life. Find more at: www.dhm.de/zeughauskino

Berlin Logs

ARTISTANIA Bringing Art & Culture Together By Bonny Herington Artistania is an association based in central Neukölln that aims to use the arts in order to bring people in the community together. Since the nineties Berlin has been invaded by the so-called ‘creative class’ (and yes I am a young person who has moved to Berlin to study the arts and write for a magazine…). Berlin had what other cities didn’t. In Peter Schneider’s terms, it had enough ‘space’ --both physically and figuratively-- to feel as if one can grow alongside a city that is itself in the stages of development; a perfect place for artists who would struggle to survive in the other major capital cities. With this ‘space’ being snapped away by the minute, however, and with gentrification taking place at a speed no one could have imagined, Berlin’s ‘Freiheit’ is arguably long gone. Artists are still coming to work here in great numbers and are often, alongside yuppies, seen as one of the causes of gentrification. Artistania is a strikingly unique example of an i-nternational arts association trying to involve itself in the community and bridge the gap between expats and locals. I spoke to Claire Chaulet, an organiser of the association, about the past events and aims of the project. Artistania is an association based on the idea of bringing people from different cultures and backgrounds together to collectively produce works of art. Although the members of the association I spoke to said that it did not matter whether you’re artistic or not, there is a part for everyone to play. Based on the concept of a mobile theatre company, the association was founded in 2012 by seven international young people. Since then the organisation has grown significantly and branched into various different art forms including music, dance and visual arts. The association uses recycling and upcycling, collecting random objects off the street, of which there is an abundance in Neukölln, as a way to create the association’s speciality theatre masks and puppets as well as other pieces of art. They recently moved to a new location on Neckarstraße in Neukölln and have put a considerable amount of work building this place up. Beforehand, most of the magic had taken place in a small kitchen. The dimly lit rooms glow with brightly coloured sculptures and puppets that look attentive as the performances swing into action. There is also a chill-out space, bar and various art exhibits. In May the association held an event, based at their new venue, founded on the idea of kennenlernen (getting to know one another). Taking to the streets with shopping trolleys full of postcards, the artists asked their neighbours and the community questions not only about what they wanted from Artistania,

but also what they wanted from the community. They then posted these out to the right addresses. This was part of a network of associations in Europe’s project to involve arts in the community. The association is specifically aiming to hold events that can benefit the community as a whole. They believe in connecting people through the ideology that differences bring forth better ideas and create less conflict and fear of the so-called ‘other’,’ strictly opposing the ideas of nationalism. The future aims of the project are to continue to construct the space; they have done much already work but have even further to go. For 50 cents you can buy a brick to help them with their building materials. They also hope to introduce a mobile space so they can travel to other communities and other countries, as well as create a cultural centre in Neukölln. Obviously Artistania cannot solve all the problems of division within communities, but they are a small step in the right direction – a prime example of the way we should all be moving forward. On 19th – 21st July Artistania held another festival based in the community, with hula hooping workshops, dance and drama performances as well as exhibitions. This event was definitely worth a visit if you enjoy the arts and want to mix with the community. Later in July the association also held a construction week. You can find them at: Neckarstrasse 19, 12053 Berlin Website: www.artistania.org

Berlin Logs

LANGUAGE LEARNING WHEN IMMERSION WON’T COME TO YOU

By Eileen Carelock

hen I was in school, I remember my foreign language teacher telling our class that the best way to learn a language was through total immersion. As a teenage girl learning German in a Texas public school, I never dreamed I’d encounter such an opportunity. Fastforward 15 years, grammar and vocabulary eroded by the sands of time, I find myself here in Berlin. This is my chance, right?

Perhaps you’ve noticed, but Berlin is less than immersive. It’s quite possible to get by with minimal German. There’s this nasty rumor that everyone speaks English--lies! Although this rumor isn’t entirely true, one could argue that given the recent startup boom, Berlin is enabling its English speaking expat bubble more and more. Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say Berlin’s English speaking bubble is

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Berlin Logs

The thing about language is how easily it starts slipping away from you when you’re not using it regularly. I found myself once again at a frustrating plateau, perhaps even sliding backwards. In a way I was kind of back where I started, right?

enabling itself and increasing as a result. The point of socio-economic contention that it may be, we English speakers find ourselves benefitting from the convenience, and subsequently suffering (in a “first world problems” kinda way) for the same reason. Therefore, the onus is on us to rise to the linguistic occasion and reject the powerful pull of familiarity, by saying sally forth beyond the borders of our comfort zones. Enthusiasm aside, when I first arrived here, my plight to learn the language learning was compounded by the fact that I was working long hours from home for a company that had nothing to do with Berlin. Anyone who’s experienced long-term telecommuting will understand what I mean when I say it can feel like living in social exile. It’s a situation that does one’s interpersonal skills no favors. Eccentricity starts to take over, and it’s not a pretty thing… Anyway, I eventually got tired of being chained to my desk, feeling disconnected from the city in which I was living. I decided I needed to get serious and get myself into a real Sprachkurs. There’s an old saying that goes something like: If the immersive experience will not come to me, then I must go to the immersive experience—even if it’s only for three hours a day. I enjoyed a heady peak following a stretch of back-toback intensive courses. Confidence soared, horizons expanded. It was a glorious time. Everything seemed to come together: I landed a second part-time job, and then another volunteer gig. However, irony of ironies, they both ended up being not only English speaking but work-from-home situations as well. So what did that mean for my linguistic aspirations? The thing about language is how easily it starts slipping away from you when you’re not using it regularly. I found myself once again at a frustrating plateau, perhaps even sliding backwards. In a way I was kind of back where I started, right? Not long ago I was chatting online (auf Deutsch) with a former classmate from Ukraine, lamenting about my language skill regression in the face of an English speaking bubble universe. Never mind that less than a year ago the mere idea of coherent lamentation would have seemed entirely beyond my ability. My friend calmly pointed out, “Weltsprache ist deine

Muttersprache, was kann besser sein?” The between-the-lines translation: Check your privilege, English-speaker. So that was my cue to dial back the angst and reframe. If you don’t need to learn German for work or study, that just leaves the casual day-to-day stuff: interacting with your environment, understanding what’s going on, making yourself understood. To make that happen requires just a little creativity and selfmotivation. Once again: If the immersion won’t come to me, then I must go to the immersion—for me lately, this means the dog park. Recently I was with my dog at the Hundeplatz on Revalerstraße, mulling over work-related thoughts. I needed photos for a project, and looking through the chain-link fence at the poster-plastered, graffitied brick facades across the street, I got an idea. There was another woman at the park I vaguely knew. I approached her in German and asked if she would mind keeping an eye on my dog—I just needed to step across the street to take a couple photos and would be right back. The words flowed so naturally and spontaneously from my lips, effecting the beautiful alchemical transmutation of intent into expression without the cumbersome act of conscious English-to-German translation. It was so right, so perfect. I did just as I said, snapped my photos and returned to collect my dog. I felt triumphant, powerful: ICH KANN DEUTSCH! On the way home, I texted my husband about the exchange, expressing glowing self-satisfaction with gratuitous emojis, “Ya know,” he texted back, “she probably thought you went across the street to buy weed.” I quickly replayed the scene in my head, taking in the locale, its proximity to the guys in hoodies making their sidewalk rounds, my dreadlocks and flimsy “pretext”, the flicker of something in the woman’s expression when she said okay. “Aw, crapsticks!” I thought to myself. *slanty face emoji* And so you see, folks, even if you manage to somehow transcend the misunderstandings of foreign grammar and vocab, you’ll still have plenty of opportunity for miscommunication and misrepresentation. Life is, after all, a comedy of errors, so why not live it up in both languages: immerse.

Berlin Logs

Boros Bunker: A Unique Combo of History & Art By Laura Bithell Housed in an indestructible war bunker, the building and its varied history are as impressive as the artwork in the Sammlung Collection. The imposing structure was originally built as a wartime shelter to protect as many as 2000 people from air raids, with 150 rooms and walls 2 metres thick. The building is so indestructible that it took an entire 6 months to cut a chunk out of the ceiling when the current owners renovated it. After the war it was used as a detention centre by the Soviets, and then as a storage space for tropical fruits – earning it the nickname: ‘The Banana Bunker’. In the nineties, before the days of Berghain, the bunker began to host raves. It quickly became one of the most infamous clubs in Berlin, known for its hardcore techno and fetish nights. Our guide told us that she has often heard crazy stories from visitors who had partied at ‘Der Bunker’ in their youth and had returned to see it in its new role. One man explained that is was common to see candles burning in the rooms. These were not meant to create romantic mood lighting, but tested the levels of oxygen. When the flame expired it was time to make a hasty exit! Another visitor said that he emerged from a particularly intense session to workers drilling into the road. He watched in amusement as fellow ravers continued their night by dancing to the sound of the jackhammers. Nowadays the bunker has a more peaceful atmosphere and (thankfully) there is no shortage of oxygen. Instead of dancing the night away you can visit by day and view some fascinating modern art. The artwork itself is from the Boros family’s massive private collection and are put on rotation every four years. Pieces are carefully chosen to complement each other as well as the rooms they are placed in. Only piece has actually been designed specifically for the building. Several artists have also incorporated sound into their work, which can be heard throughout the space. This gives the exhibition a sense of being one immersive installation. As you walk around, the layers of the bunker’s long history can be spotted too, from the old war-time ventilation system to the peeling black paint and graffiti from its clubbing days.

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After the war it was used as a detention centre by the Soviets, and then as a storage space for tropical fruits – earning it the nickname: ‘The Banana Bunker’.

The current exhibition features such highlights as the moving sculptures of Michael Sailstorfer’s work which includes a machine that produces several tonnes of popcorn a week and the thought-provoking creations of Alicja Kwade, which playfully explore theories of time and space. There’s a real mixture of styles and ideas on display, from the beautiful to the downright bizarre. Of course not everything will be to everyone’s taste, and some pieces might not fall into what people typically consider as art. I had to quickly stop my friend from putting her rubbish into what she mistook for a real bin! Viewings are only possible with a guided tour, which is just as well as the pieces are unmarked and it’s easy to get lost in the complicated layout. With the collection spanning an impressive five floors, there’s plenty to see, causing the ninety-minute tour to fly by pretty quickly. Sadly, you can’t take the lift up to peek at the Boros family penthouse apartment on the top floor, but from the pictures, it looks like something to envy. Personal photos aren’t allowed so leave your camera at home. If you’re curious about Berlin’s past culture and in modern art, then this unique exhibition is for you. Make sure you book your tour online a few weeks in advance as places fill up fast!

Berlin Logs

Introducing

HERDING CATS By Lucas Haas

Herding Cats is a new regular feature for the print issue of Berlin Logs - a comic strip detailing the peculiarly Berlin trials, tribulations and mishaps that we all, at some point, fall foul of. Fittingly for its first outing, Herding Cats looks at the horror of Burgeramt appointments - everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first step towards calling Berlin home... Eventually. If you have an idea that you think would work for Herding Cats, email us at info@berlinlogs.com.

Art & Culture

Adornism

UNION OF ART AND PHILOSOPHY By Sasha Prince

he more one tries to define beauty, the more foolish the argument becomes. Is appearance relevant? We are surrounded by such confusing thoughts on the subject. On one hand, we are told through marketing, commercialism, conformism and more that the latest trends, expensive brands, mass marketed art and more are the end points of acceptable aestheticism. How one must look to fit in is clearly defined through mass media and one must do as the fashion and times dictate or else risk painfully standing out. On the other hand, we are taught that looks don’t matter. That it is what is on the inside that counts. It is said that one must not be shallow and think only on the aesthetic. How is a person to cope? I found an answer when I was lucky enough to meet Anto Christ. Hailing from Malta and Australia, Anto

Anto Christ with Crochet piece - By Hugo Rourke.

has resided in Berlin for close to four years. She is a self proclaimed Creative and one senses that immediately. Anto has founded a new art movement called Adornism. The mantra of the organization is Albert Camus’ statement, “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your existence is an act of rebellion.” Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy that deals with themes that reside in the clouds. As Anatole France states in his The Disputes of the Flute-Players, “It is a castle in the air.” There is no way to determine what a pleasing aesthetic is. As soon as one arrives at a conclusion, and equal number of counter opinions will appear. Thus Adornism encourages the expression of emotion, opulence (because one cannot imagine that minimalism contains in it the

Art & Culture

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How many people belong to the Adornism movement? It is hard to say, perhaps fifty to one hundred. Anyone can be an Adornist if they chose.

cosmic soul), decoration and spirit. It is only when created through the genuine self that art is truthful. Adornists embody that. Let the universal goo be brilliant, and in this way be free from the constraints of the definition of beauty: to delineate what is or is not beautiful becomes irrelevant. The goal is to be to the fullest extent. Everything is sublime when created with the perfection of the true self. So, it is official, looks do matter. That was really never the question, was it? The question should be, do looks need to conform since they are important? The answer to that can only come from within an individual. However, the Adornists provide a colorful world of creativity and freedom that will perhaps loosen the tight binding that fashion, religion, culture, and society place on the appearance of all of us. Adornists use the aesthetic to express their freedom and in doing so they help to set us all free. As an aesthetic movement, Adornism is also a life philosophy. Anto Christ explains that Adornism has always existed, as the very earliest record of humans demonstrate that we were adorning ourselves in one way or another. She feels that Adornism simply has been given a name, but exists in all of us as one of the silent aspects that binds us together as sentient beings. Adornism is organic; one draws upon it as one draws upon the third eye or inner knowledge. These are elements that have been quashed in the modern bustle of technology and materialism. Adornism encourages its members to reignite the passion that lies in all of us, ignore the dictates of modern society and instead discover the true self through creativity. It is a movement for all: an extension of our beings. The works that define the Adornism movement fulfill the goals of the artist and exist purely for their own sake. If the aesthetic is important, then the creation of a visible work is important solely for its aesthetic value. The work should be created with hyper attention to detail and skill, so that the end product has a life of its own, befitting something made with both heart and ability. It is customarily colorful, although that is not a prerequisite. However, if there is a work that has a more monotone color scheme then the artist should render it with intricate detail and skill. Layering, dimension, movement, flow: these are quintessential to the Adornist movement.

Why is Adornism important? It is important because it helps us to deal with this confined world. In this world where answers to all questions can be dictated by the ubiquitous need to conform, Adornism provides a freedom from this constraint. It encourages working against whatever higher power that dictates what we are supposed to present to the world. It is ok not to fit in, and why would you want to anyway? No one knows why we are here, or what we should look like, so why not do as you feel and be free? Adornist paintings often include texture and are of course bursting with color. Anto compares looking at her paintings to cloud watching because there are so many different aspects in them. Depending on where you are standing you see different things. A person can play with the images, and see endless possibilities. The art brings people together on all different levels. Adornists show at galleries, create for theater productions, do commission work. The Adornists are a community, they spend time together, spin their ideas, creating within the group. They recently had a show at the Ballery. It was a smorgasbord of magnificent color and design. The various Adornist artists created fabulous creations from sometimes seemingly banal items. The results were not only amazing, but emancipating by their creativity. It truly was a spectacle of color and creativity. For the blossoming movement of Adornism, the show at the Ballery was an opportunity for many Adornists in Berlin to come together and show their works. How many people belong to the Adornism movement? It is hard to say, perhaps fifty to one hundred. Anyone can be an Adornist if they chose. Adornists look to each other for inspiration, are connected through facebook. There is a venue called Same Heads in NeukĂślln where many Adornists hang out. It is an artist shop, cafĂŠ, bar and performance venue: a place that supports the creativity in the community where ideas can blossom and grow. We are a sum total of our experiences and every one of us is unique. Adornism celebrates this fact, and there is nowhere like Berlin where one can do this! Many thanks to Anto Christ for her information on the Adornist movement.

Art & Culture

LE PUSTRA

THE FUTURE OF CABARET IN BERLIN By Sasha Prince

Le Pustra has a distinguished resume of performing together with Neil Gamon, strutting along the catwalk at London Fashion week, gracing the pages of both the French and Italian Vogues, as well as extensive touring of Europe and the United States and Australia.

ou decide to go to a show. The decision has been reached to go to a cabaret. The night is about to fall and the leaves are just beginning to turn. The streets disappear into the dusk; winding tentacles of forgotten longing. Somehow the gloom of the evening swaddles you, comforts you and as you make your way through the fog your mind wanders away from the confusing web of thoughts that is your brain. At the entrance of the show you feel the press of bodies around you. Despite

the heat of other bodies you have a chill inside that wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t leave but the red velvet that lines the walls softly folds you in and you relax into that ever-present sadness. The show begins. On the stage is a creature of such sincerity, such sadness, such purity that the melancholy that dogs the hours, lonely in its constancy, finally has company. Le Pustra is on stage. He is there, shining in his vulnerability. The truth

Art & Culture that emanates from his presence and voice, it is piercing but reassuring at the same time. Le Pustra performs cabaret from the heart. The songs unravel; the spontaneous results of his experience. Your skin crawls as his emotions pierce your heart. The time flies by; at the end of the show, you realize, you are no longer alone. On the walk home you are bathed in darkness, the cool air surrounds you with a gentle embrace. That evening you sleep, Le Pustra’s magnetic eyes haunting you while at the same time his glance soothes your broken heart. Le Pustra has a distinguished resume of performing together with Neil Gamon, strutting along the catwalk at London Fashion week, gracing the pages of both the French and Italian Vogues, as well as extensive touring of Europe and the United States and Australia. Hailing from South Africa, he began his journey by studying musical theater. He had a wonderful singing teacher, Miss Brown, at the Waterfront Theatre School, who helped to draw the self-proclaimed wall-flower out of his shell. Upon finding his feet he then headed off to London to begin his career. As an established international singer, muse, fashion model, and bon-vivant, Le Pustra oozes that

kind of sensitivity that only comes with tried and tested professionalism. His describes his character as simple, clean lines, and although dramatic, stays somehow straightforward – from the heart. He does his own makeup, and he attributes this ability to his background as a painter. His favorite part of doing makeup is his lips. “It is so much fun to play with the colors,” he says with a smile. The show started as Mr. Pustra in 2009, and about a year ago changed to Le Pustra. He had originally started as half of a duo, but when his partner decided to change direction, he decided to continue the character and this was how his solo show was born. He went to Rome, and the Italians loved the character and gave him an opportunity to grow his show. His shows incorporate a melancholic theme, pushing the edge of emotional danger. He states he is heavily drawn to Tim Burton and the power and truthfulness of sad music. It is through music that he feels that he can “really touch people.” He also eats fire, plays the musical saw, does short skits, presents a sad Pierrot act accompanied by Maria Callas and balloons; small

vignettes. 2015 started out bumpy. He knew he needed a change. “The universe decided it was time to chuck me off a cliff without a life jacket. I ended up here in Berlin, and it is the best thing that has happened to me,” he says. The tradition of Cabaret is close to his heart. His show will be about an hour and a half, and will integrate elements of his life as well as the ups and downs of show-business. It will incorporate piano, possible strings, a selection of French, German and English songs; very simple and visual. He will preserve the fashion aspect, as he loves that. He portrays beauty and honesty. Le Pustra welcomes his time of self-reinvention and says that at some point he was doing so much, and was absorbing so many different characters, that he had to take a moment to draw a deep breath. He had years of incorporating so many characters into the Le Pustra act: Marlene Dietrich, Klaus Nomi and more, and it was fun but he needed to find his own identity in the show. He did this by getting in touch with his own vulnerability, which is scary, but with that comes his greatest strength. The audience can feel it, and find in themselves the vulnerability that can be pushed aside in the hectic work day. Le Pustra’s next appearance on a stage

will be for Alternative Fashion Week in Berlin. It will be running from the 23-27th of September. In the show he will be walking for Ivana Pilja, a fashion designer from Serbia. Her show will be on the 26th at the Postbahnhof. There is a choreographer who will be working with them for the performance. This is not the first time he has worked with this particular designer; it was with her that he had worked for the London fashion week. Le Pustra is fascinated by Berlin: its history of Cabaret in the 1920s; the freedom of sexuality. “It is a city that attracts a lot of broken people, but they have so much to offer. It is wonderful. Berlin is experiencing a rebirth of 1920s. It is a place where people can create or reinvent themselves. It is a city that fascinates me.” His show is a start up in Berlin; it will be the latest and greatest version of Le Pustra. As there is not a large Cabaret scene in Berlin anymore, he is hoping to revitalize it as well as create an all-male review.

Art & Culture

OPERA ON TAP ENCAPSULATING THE QUIRKY TALENT By Alice Dundon Photos by Masa Zia Lenárdic

had no idea what to expect when a friend invited me to the opera night at Prachtwerk bar last month. In my mind opera had always been reserved for grandiose performances in concert halls. This art form has, for many of us, always resided behind a traditional barrier. However this was an image that tumbled down as I experienced my first Opera on Tap. As I watched the singers glide from the stage into the crowd, singing with astounding confidence and sass, I was gob smacked. It was amazing to watch this art form become so accessible, tangible and inclusive. Though the idea of Opera on Tap was born in the New York City in 2005 and blew up from there, organisers of the Berlin night, Anne Byrne and Sarah Ring, both felt, independently, that this city would be the perfect place to introduce the organization to Europe. A mutual friend back in the United States, who recognised their correlative goal to see Opera on Tap in Berlin, made the dream a reality and introduced Sarah and Anne on facebook. They had both previously worked with Opera on Tap so it was a relationship with high potential. From there the pair started looking for venues to host the Opera nights and as fate would have it Anne was introduced to John Hasler and Stephanie Hasler of Prachtwerk bar. “As soon as I came to Prachtwerk I knew it was exactly what we had been searching for,” Anne said. With its high ceilings, mixture of modern and vintage interior and ample space, it was clear that Prachtwerk had all the aesthetic and practical needs to host the Opera on Tap nights. “We get some really fantastic opera singers, with amazing, booming voices. The space suits the voices perfectly and can accommodate large audiences. It has worked out really well.” “It is also very rare to find a bar that has a piano. We were looking for something quite unique and we found that here,” Sarah said. For Anne and Sarah, discovering Prachtwerk was more than just finding the right space. A mirroring of ideologies and brand ethos was also unearthed and has created a strong bond between Prachtwerk and Opera on Tap. After meeting with Stephanie and hearing her explain the philosophy that Prachtwerk has about supporting local artists, hosting engaging shows and providing the audiences with unique experiences, they realised that their goals matched. “We felt very at home

instantly,” Sarah said. According to John, Prachtwerk was opened with a goal of creating a stage that would provide a variety of different ideas and experience. They wanted to break out of the norm. “A lot of venues just stick to their thing. They pick their target audience and stay with that. However, there is so much diversity here in Neukölln and the artists are so talented; we wanted to create a space that could be as diverse as this city.” John said. ‘That’s why we loved it when the girls approached us about the night. We had never heard of opera in a bar before and for us, the more creative and fresh it is, as long as it’s done professionally, then it is

Art & Culture

fair game.” It is the quality and professionalism of the Opera on Tap group that probed Stephanie and John to give an opportunity to this unique event. ‘They took a chance on us. They said that if we got 70 people in the audience then we could make the show a monthly regular,” Sarah described. “We panicked!” Anne exclaimed. However, the first show was a hit with nearly 100 people in the audience. The group has now had five shows at Prachtwerk, a success they attribute to their growing and receptive audience. John agrees and says Opera on Tap night gives the audiences an inclusive vibe. “I’d say out of everything we do here it’s definitely one of the most interactive and fun nights. It has been amazing!” Anne shares this view and says the energy the audience gives is something that also uplifts the performers. It is this love for the audience as well as the desire to keep the event open for everyone to experience this truly quirky night that drives the members of Opera on Tap to keep the event free.“We ask for donations and we will haggle you, but we like to keep it open for everyone,” Anne said. This sense of community unites the Opera on Tap group as the nights. The shows are put on without any rehearsals and therefore rely on a strong bond of trust between the performers. “We have a thirty minute check sound check before the night starts and that is

it,” Sarah said. “We have really professional singers, so we trust that they will do what they need to.” Despite this improv attitude, Sarah and Anne do establish a theme for each night. According to John this keeps the nights accessible and fresh. Even though there are a lot of different pieces, there is there is still continuity and anyone can identify with the subject matter. This month’s theme is ‘Oot um die Welt.’ “We figured August in the time when most people are travelling, so the August performance will explore an around the world theme,” says Sarah. ‘We have a mix of Russian arias, Mexican and Czech pieces and lots of different styles that aren’t usually heard,” included Anne. This month’s singers are Tanya Roberts, Aída de la Cruz, Jeremy Osborne, Stephanie Weiss, Seth Carico, Sarah Ring and Anne Byrne with Pianist Daniel Gundlach. “We are all connected via the Berlin artist community and many of us have worked together in the past in both the US and Europe,” Anne explained. The event will kick off at Prachtwerk on Tuesday the 18th of August at 8:00pm and is sure to deliver a mixed bag of outstanding musical talent, eccentric performances and an unmatched experience for us all to delight in. So for those of you who love to immerse yourself in the Bohemian and zany talent in Berlin, it is a night that simply can’t be missed.

Berlin Logs

The

INTERNSHIP CON How Millennials Ended Up Working For Free By Sarah Coughlan

t their peak, trade union membership in Germany stood at an intimidating 15 million. Since its prime in 1991, membership has halved down to 7.5 million members, including a solid 20% who are retired. For most millennials trade unions are a relic from another era, a facet of the past that has little to do with their lives or their future. And theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re right. Trade unions typically represent full-

time employees and bargain to improve their rights (pay, pensions, holidays) and for an estimated third of millennials, full-time work with benefits is nothing but a pipedream. The route to work has, in fact, become really rather expensive, especially for those hoping to work in creative industries. There was a time, in the fat years,

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before the banking system collapsed and had to be bailed out at enormous cost to the taxpayers across the world, when a young person seeking work and without experience could apply to an entry-level position and stand a reasonable chance of getting the job. These days are long gone. For most young people seeking work today, there are two hurdles they must jump through: 1) they must get a degree in more or less anything, at any cost; and 2) is to complete a fistful of internships. So first: a degree at all costs. In a world where for all but those lucky enough to be born on continental Europe (as close to free university as you’ll get, and totally free if you want to study in Germany), a degree is going to set you back several tens of thousands of euros. This is a vital step, however, because it is now completely impossible to get a huge variety of jobs without a degree. For example, if you want to be a social media manager at one of Berlin’s many (terribly paid) startups, you’ll need a degree to bag an interview. To reiterate: to get a job, one which requires you to post on social media all day long, you need to have spent several thousand euros studying something to even get your foot in the door. This goes for a whole array of jobs that twenty years ago would have simply required some common sense and a willingness to learn: admin office jobs – that’ll need a degree; customer service agent – degree please; anything using a computer – degree. The kicker, however, is that all of these jobs don’t simply require a degree; they also require 1+ years experience. Of course, it’s getting pretty old discussing the Catch-22 of this, that you need experience to get experience, but underneath that is the truly horrifying truth: millennials are being kept in their social places by internships. If you want to work at a newspaper, a job that in former times did not require a degree at all, you’ll need an advanced degree (yet more money) as well as a handful of unpaid, full-time internships before you can get your foot in the door. This is all well and good if you have a family support system in place whereby you can afford all of this, but for most that means this is simply another avenue where the only-moderately well-off and below are barred from entry. It is, however, difficult to diagnose this as only a class barrier so much as it is increasingly designated a hurdle which all are expected to clear, because even jobs that are typically low status (marketing, administration and the rest) are increasingly looking for internship experience before they hand out contracts. And for those with artistic inclinations, the situation is even worse. So how did we get here? If you start to look at internships under a microscope it becomes clear that this kind of menial work has been the route into professions for much of history. Where once a teenage boy would enter into the supervision of a master tradesman to learn the ins and outs of the work and acquire skill mastery before entering into the trade’s guild, this model finds some parallels with the modern internship. Yet, there are a number of differences that undermine the comparison. For apprentices in the classical sense, the training period represented a key part of their skill mastery. It required work, supervision and training to learn the tricks of the trade, something that went some way

towards justifying the low wages and poor conditions suffered – this was about filling future jobs. Modern internships, meanwhile, are a mixed bag. While for interns at big investment banks, law firms and the like can expect training, supervision and, vitally, money, for many interns, pay remains laughably absent. For most, internships pay nothing, or as insultingly close to nothing as contractually possible. In Germany, the minimum wage legislation should have gone a long way toward addressing this issue, but for many their reality is a period of unpaid work with no promise of a future position. While governments across the wealthy world seek to balance their budgets on the backs of the today’s working youth, slashing benefits, raising the costs of education and failing to do much at all to address the cost of housing, internships are the holy grail of shattering upward social mobility. It is increasingly hard, difficult hurtling towards becoming impossible, for even those lucky enough to come from moderately wealthy backgrounds to break into sought-after creative industries like advertising, journalism and the arts. And, depressingly, even the less-glamorous industries are heading in the same direction. The consequences of this are yet to materialise, but it is worth asking ourselves what we expect our cultural landscape to look like if we allow it to become the playground of only the wealthiest and best-networked. And why it is that a whole generation of young people are expected to survive for months, or even years, on next to no income. A world where the voices of the ordinary disappear is a world where their concerns go unheard and a less pluralistic one.

INTERNS IN BERLIN: WHAT’S IT LIKE WORKING FOR FREE One has only to start asking around groups of 20-somethings about internship horror stories to become inundated with material. There’s stories about the company that hires interns on the longest possible contract before the legal requirement to pay them before the company lets them go and brings in another batch. Then there are the companies that are featured in Tech Crunch, The Guardian and Vox, pasted across the international media as Berlin startup success stories, which in reality have two interns for every full-time staff member. And then there are the liars. For many interns that fall foul to liars, they’re already in a desperate situation: un(der)employed, in debt and with rent to pay. So when a company is promising a proper job with good pay after a short period of unpaid or even tokenistically paid work, they are completely taken in.

“They lied from start to finish,” says Gemma*, a 26-year-old graduate. “They made all the right sounds about paying me properly throughout the internship and about finding a place for me once the internship was over, even going as far as to interview me for a different, properlypaid position, without warning and hence a chance to prepare. It was all lies. ”

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Gemma’s story is far from unique. While there are no official numbers on the percentage of interns being kept on after their internship period in Berlin, straw polling of interns suggests that the figure is low. Many, like Gemma, find that the tokenistic pay slides down their list of worries as the promise of a proper job falls further and further from view. Interns that realise they’ve been had and try and play the temporary contract to their advantage are likely to find that HR are on hand to stick the knife in.

“I realised that a job wasn’t going to materialise and I refused to give them the pleasure of thanking me for my work but being ‘unable’ to offer me a job; no way were they going to sack me. So I emailed my supervisor and told them I wouldn’t seek a permanent contract once mine elapsed. Two minutes later some woman from HR was there making me sign forms to ensure they didn’t have to pay me for the Christmas period (despite being contracted to it). The fun of that, of course, was that meant I was unable to claim any benefits because I’d ‘quit’ even though I just ran out my contract. I felt really cheated.” Despite this, Gemma remains fairly lucky – at least she was being paid something, albeit an insultingly low figure. For Max*, his six-month internship was entirely unpaid, this, despite the fact that he should have been covered by the minimum wage laws that came into effect this year.

“I worked full-time for six months for an online magazine and never saw a penny. They got around the minimum wage laws by calling it a ‘volunteer’ position, but to me if you’re expected to be at a desk 40+ hours a week, that isn’t volunteering. It’s work. I worked in a bar to keep some money in my pocket, but I was flat broke, tired and now I’m back at square one.” Of course, for some, internships can be great, and there are several programmes that help to pay for students to fund their internships, and for those looking to work in big money industries like banking, well paid internships are the norm. Rachel* was one such student. She won some funding from her university to pay her living expenses while she interned at a not-for-profit organisation, an experience which has set her up to find interesting work in the future.

“I got so lucky, I know I did. My internship was great: I learned a lot, had enough to

live on and got some important skills and a reference. I feel bad when I tell people about it because it’s so unusual not to have to worry about money when you’re an intern.” The best advice as far as internships go, then, is as follows: try to find a sponsorship programme where possible, know your rights under the minimum wage, and go in with your eyes open – it’s a jungle out there.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: INTERNS AND THE MINIMUM WAGE For many interns, the minimum wage laws passed this year will come as little comfort, but there remain plenty aboard the struggle-bus who can benefit, if only they know their rights.

THE 10 FACTS: 1. The new minimum wage of €8.50 has been in effect since the start of this year so for a 40-hour work week, employees earn €1.473 brutto per month. 2. The minimum wage covers almost everyone, including full-time and part-time employment, as well as most internships and mini-jobs. 3. Mini-jobs (those €450 jobs you see advertised on the U-Bahn) are also affected, in that the hours will be regulated so that these types of employees also earn €8.50/hour. This means that anyone working a minijob can work up to 12 hours per week. 4. Freelancers and their self-employed compadres are not covered under the law. 5. The minimum wage does not apply to internships shorter than three months, or an internship intended to serve to help you choose a profession or course of studies (‘Orientierungspraktikum’). Internships required by studies are also not covered (‘Pflichtpraktikum’). 6. Those under the age of 18 are also exempt. 7. Internships for those with a completed university degree must meet the minimum wage requirements. 8. A few key industries which had previously agreedupon industry minimum wages below €8.50 will have until 2017 to slowly transition to the new minimum wage: hairdressers (currently €7.50 in Berlin); temp staff (€8.20); land-, forest- or garden workers (€7.20), and a few others. 9. The minimum wage law also does not apply for the first six months to those who have been unemployed for 12 months or longer (‘Langzeitarbeitslose’) and are re-entering the job market. 10. Everyone else is covered.

Berlin Logs

The

Tattletale Heart By Alix Berber

e all know that one couple that has been a solid, loving fixture on the canvas that is your social circle in Berlin. They’re not crazy in love (well, not anymore) but they stand on a solid platform of mutual affection and comfort. Look at them, marvel in their happy-ish-ness. They’ll break up, that I promise you. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not some old hag of a spinster creeping behind bushes to shame happy couples. I was once just like them; in a happy, committed (albeit open) relationship for almost a decade. Going to Ikea, giving joint birthday presents to family members, commitment, love… And one day I woke up and decided that this wasn’t for me anymore. Boom. That’s the scariest thing about love, isn’t it? That one morning the person waking up next to you decides that they no longer love you. I feel like my mom struggled with my breakup just as much as my ex-boyfriend. She would leave books titled “When Love Ends“ or “Guide To Staying Together: From Crisis to Deeper Commitment“ lying around the house over Christmas to remind me in a motherly-loving yet passive-aggressive way how much she disapproved of my decision. I was fine. I had fallen in love with someone my friends now refer to as “Voldemort“, “Muppet Boy“ or my personal favourite “Guantanamo Bae“. The moral of the story? Just because someone gives you orgasms that are the closest you’ll ever get to a religious experience doesn’t mean they are right for you. I knew I had hit my personal rock bottom when I found myself crying in public on a low-cost-airline flight out of Berlin. But I was young and stupid then. Six months later, I’m still young and stupid but I’m also horny for a meaningful relationship. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been on dates for the past six month but mostly for my own amusement and distraction. It’s like getting back on a horse after you fall off. It’s all heels down, firm hands and face turned forward from this point on. I’ve met my fair share of people I’d call “interesting“(mostly for legal reasons). I went on one or more dates with some of them over the last couple of years. I ended up falling in love with very few. Yet the only thing they all have in common is that I’ve shared bits of my time with them. Some of these people became (big) plot points on my journey while others turned into footnotes. This column will be a platform for these stories as well as what it means to date in Berlin, the capitol of the notoriously unattached. I will venture out of my (and hopefully your) comfort zone to find the one person that will make both my heart race and my loins quiver. I will tell stories of desire, infatuation and heartbreak. My name is Alix Berber. I’m a girl. I’m twenty-ish. I’m bisexual. And my plan is to find Mr. or Mrs. Right(-ish).

good looks and a staggering sense of entitlement, I recently compiled a list of attributes I would want my potential partner to have (inspired by a TED talk titled “How I hacked online dating“). As it turns out, my standards are as high as my morals are low. So what I’ll embark on will probably be a disastrous (and hopefully entertaining) ride, fuelled by bad decisions, online-dating and all the madness that Berlin has to offer.

Armed with nothing but my dazzling intellect, my startling

See you next month...

Startup

FROM THE DEEP…..

From the deep crawl eyes that creep with green and hidden terror. They beckon those who crave their throes of sadness and despair. They spread their slime and turn to grime the believers who in error lose their hope and for proof grope after a deathly prayer. By Alexandra Munyon

rom underneath the Charlottenburg Rathaus, just east of Ernst Reuter Platz, there is a dank basement that lies hidden as the tourists tramp above. Berlin is bustling. As the artist hub of the earth, it bears this unofficial title proudly and effortlessly supports the hordes that come to soak up what it has to offer. Perhaps the magnetism in the earth shifts, and locations, through no real merit or fault of their own, become these artistic Meccas. As it was in Paris at the beginning of the 20th century and New York in the ‘60s and ‘70s, the Zeitgeist of the moment is located in Berlin. Certainly there is a pull to the earth as the innocents tramp along. Is this like the magnetic horseshoe that collects iron flecks as it passes above? Are we the people simply being sucked unwittingly into this current magnetic spot? Is it like a black hole of the Earth, ingesting all who come across its mouth? For artist, Douglas Prince, it seems to be so. The air is close and warm. The stench of something long forgotten bides its time in the dank room. The sun is hot overhead, but in the heat there is the promise of cold yet to come. Native Berliners are escaping the press even as the tourists are flocking to it. As Douglas languishes in time, a dream of unseen horror blankets his mind. The despair fills the crevasses as he claws the walls to no avail. The horror calls him ever closer, muffling the sounds of happy tourists eating ice cream up above. There is no hope, nor ever was, he soon realizes in his anguish. The only option left to him is to accept this dark existence, to welcome it with open arms. His hands, skilled at fashioning works of beauty, start to twitch with a hidden force. In the dark, with just a match to light his eyes, he feels the stub of

a pencil. On the concrete, greasy floor, his hands working with foreign brain, he sketches the only hope for his escape from this murky cellar… ~~~~~~~~~~ How long had it been? No way to know. The oppressive heat had lessened by a half degree. The sounds of cheerful, carefree tourists had dwindled to a faint piano. Sasha Prince, accustomed to Douglas’ bouts of madness, had not thought to search him out. However, as the sun dipped behind Charlottenburg Schloss, she thought she should search him out. As the corners of the two room flat were quite bare, she rose to explore more remote reaches. Winding stairs descended into damp air as she entered the basement door. There on the floor, next to her prostrate husband, was something sketched, no etched, upon the floor. And as the door began to swirl, she clutched at walls no longer vertical, as the darkness turned to green… Douglas Prince is a self-taught artist who has spent the majority of his career creating video games and multimedia. He entered digital art while working as a promotional artist for various bands in Austin, Texas, where an incredible poster art scene had been going strong for many decades. Douglas had a roaring time producing art for various bands, including promotional art for the Fabulous Thunderbirds. He then discovered early 2D and 3D software packages and turned his artistic efforts towards making video games during the growth of Austin’s tech boom. Since then he has art-directed projects for many companies, both large and small. Since moving to Berlin, Douglas has founded a small art and design company, Studiofabuloso, which will produce works for clients as well as some of its own original publications. As an artist

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he has always appreciated the imagery presented in the works of H.P. Lovecraft and similarly inspired by the art and creativity that is deeply woven into the fabric of Berlin society. One night he was struck with an ironic idea: why not create a toy, one which would incorporate the horror of Lovecraft with the innocent banality which is the rubber ducky? Thus was Dthuhlu born. As Douglas is pursuing his dream of having his own art company, his burning desire to spread the hope (and despair) of Dthuhlu has increased. He has been perfecting the design of Dthuhlu for the past year: painstakingly printing copy after copy of it, folding the paper into various models, his ideas developing, and at last he has arrived at the final product. A tribute to the great Cthuhlu, Dthuhlu can watch you as you relax in your bath, its eyes can follow you as you circle your apartment, it can gaze at you in your sleep. The design of the Dthuhlu poster was inspired by Douglas’ love of poster art. “The poster art scene in Austin blew my mind in my early 20s. I met incredible

illustrators and artists in Texas who worked in the poster world and were truly revolutionary.” Aside from comics, Douglas describes posters as a key influence in his artistic development. In designing the Dthuhlu poster, he wanted to invoke San Francisco classics like Mouse and Kelly. To get in the vintage spirit he listened to lots of ‘70’s music while working - lots of Sabbath. Living in Berlin has inspired Douglas to get back to his roots as an artist and creator. After a fun career in video games, he is ready to reinvent himself yet again. The creative atmosphere in Berlin, the graffiti, the never ending art gallery scene and more were very influential in his decision to begin focusing on his own creations. Douglas will be offering Dthuhlu and the Dthuhlu poster, as well as other items on Kickstarter. The campaign will be underway in September. Dthulhu is the first self-produced work offered through his company, Studio Fabuloso. www.studiofabuloso.com

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WISDOM IS ALWAYS

SIMPLE AND SO IS A GREAT

DESIGN We make awesome websites www.naxaf.com 030 982 942 02 info@naxaf.com

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KURFÜRSTENSTASSE

Living on Prostitute Lane By Conor Kilkelly

here’s nothing pleasant about moving house. Lugging hefty mattresses onto cramped, ill-equipped buses is bad enough, but that all-knowing Germanic glare adds a whole new dimension to the trauma. All you can do is hang onto the belief that it’ll all be worthwhile once you’ve arrived, sighed and then settled. Today, however, I question this sentiment as I recall how I ended up a new tenant on the infamous Kurfürstenstaße. It was a sweltering May morning, and I was ten minutes early for my 10am flat interview. Quite pleased with the fact I’d managed to find the place, I decided to explore. I had travelled a staggering ten paces before someone grabbed my arm, uttering something I couldn’t quite catch, prompting me to rattle off my catchphrase, “Entschuldigung, mein Deutsch ist nicht so gut.” The striking blonde thought for a moment, before retrieving the elusive word she was searching for, “Blowjob?” You could say the usual small talk and appliance demonstrations inclusive of a WG apartment-viewing were somewhat hindered by the scantily clad elephant in the room. I had to say something. “Lot of, eh, prostitutes out there ...” was all I could muster. The law student showing me around went on to tell me how he’s lived in the area for six years, and not one day has gone by where he hasn’t been the target of solicitation. Suddenly, the very reasonable renting price made a lot more sense. Despite a minor internal dialogue in which I considered the rare possibility of my older relatives coming for a surprise (and likely traumatising) visit—I decided to accept his offer. Nights, not surprisingly, are the worst. Kurfürstenstaße is carpeted by all manner of prostitutes – typically wearing luminous colours, tiny tops and matching bottoms, and demonstrating a “hands-on” approach to salesmanship. My former housemate, a native Berliner, was actually amazed by the lack of leather, stating these girls lacked the certain “professional” air of their Oranienburger Straße counterparts. She had a point.

There’s a certain creeping chaos to this street, which is unnerving, but really only at first. On Kurfürstenstaße I drink in every conversation I happen upon, every seat offered to weary workers, every familiar look. Occasionally it feels like a close-knit community. More often it seems a place of strained business partnerships. What remains consistent, though, is the tone of the place: the BMWs which slow to a stop, the clinical conversations, the assortment of miserable characters dotting the street. All of it adds up to a perpetual grey. Seeing it all unravel daily in front of you, you can’t help but wonder how everyone ended up here. The would-be lawyer, six years here. The girls whistling at good prospects. The Imbiss worker who keeps everyone well-fed. The shop owners who give up their seats for tired heels. And me. Then I remember, at least in my case, all I had to do was accept an offer.

Night Life

River of People: Zug der Liebe 2015 By Martyna Poważa / Photos by Anna Tkacz After five years of mourning it was finally time for a fiesta. After the tragedy in Duisburg, for five long years techno fans from around the world mourned not only the victims, but also the party—the Love Parade had been suspended forever. But this year, like a phoenix risen from the ashes, the event was reborn, transformed into Zug der Liebe / Train of Love. Despite the fact that others were responsible for the event organization, the formula remained similar. Public expectation was running high, thirsty in their demand for a real spectacle after such a long break. I’d never been a part of any of the previous Love Parades. I had been both too young and too broke to even think about coming to Berlin to participate in the fun. However, on July 25, when fate finally aligned, presenting me with the opportunity to be one of the participants, I raced eagerly for Friedrichshain to finally see— what is this, this event shrouded in legend? 1) ATTENDANCE It was really crowded. Approximately 26,000 people signed up for the event on Facebook. We all know how it is, that not everyone uses this “Book of Faces”, and certainly not all elderly people, who surprisingly came in their droves. Depending on journalistic sources, the number of attendees varies. One source mentions 10,000 participants, another says 25,000. One thing was certain, the event drew in a tremendous crowd, a real river of people. And even though it was bustling, even chaotic at times, I felt very safe. Nobody was pushing, nobody was getting pushed, and everybody had a place to dance freely. People embraced openly and spontaneously, smiling widely. Even people waiting for public transport at bus stops became partakers in the fun. 2) VOLUME It was really loud. About twenty platforms with every kind of techno music that you could imagine served up the bass along the entire route of the march. To try to detail the genres one by one would be pointless—you’d have to be there to hear it all. Once or twice the sound of two platforms would intermingle, but it was easy enough to stop and wait on the back, or catch up to the front, to balance out the rhythm. 3) COLOR It was really colorful, and not just because of the sun, which according to weather forecasts would fail to make an appearance. The crowd was incredibly diverse, and paradoxically not congruent to each community. Groups marched together not only happily but also harmoniously. The number of people in age 50+ was a big surprise— certainly at a techno party. A drag queen alongside a family with a child sleeping peacefully in a pushchair. Sailor-tattooed hipsters alongside girls dressed as fairies with

Night Life a leopard pattern on the shoulders. An eclectic compilation, which meant that we danced and frolicked even better on this one afternoon united as never before. 4) LOVE It was really great. It might seem like a five-hour walk in the steady rhythm of bass could get boring after a while, but really, it was loads of fun not only having the opportunity to observe people sharing with them as well in this communal moment of joy. Now, to while attempting to avoid pathos and artificial delight, there’s the sense that everyone who was there must have at some point felt the same thing—love, that for which we were marching. Love was truly present. “Love is in the air …” John Paul Young once sang, and this afternoon it was spread evenly in the air along with the sound of bass.

Night Life

GETTING YOUR BDSM BEARINGS AT CAFÉ ENDLOS By Eileen Carelock Berlin has a bit of a libertine reputation when it comes to sex, but there’s more to this kinky capital city than just fetish clubs and S&M dungeons. It’s also home to a vibrant, multifaceted BDSM community. As a newcomer it can seem a daunting task to break into such a scene— especially if you’re feeling self-conscious about your German. Hab keine Angst! Whether you’re an experienced player, a curious beginner, or just an openminded adventurer, a great place to start is the International English-Language Meet-Up, at Café Endlos in Prenzlauer Berg. Usually drawing between 30-60 attendees on a given night, this regular event is your opportunity to make introductions, socialize, and generally get your BDSM bearings in a casual, no-pressure atmosphere—not to mention this group’s Englishonly rule ensures that everyone will feel welcome to join in any conversation. However don’t assume this is an all-expat gig. Despite the name, you’ll actually meet quite a few Germans here—opportunity, perhaps, to strike up an unconventional tandem situation, or simply a way to get more embedded in the local fabric of Berlin. You’ll encounter people from all kinds of backgrounds—programmers, teachers, composers, scientist... vegans. Some are looking for something specific like playpartners, relationships, riggers, or models; while others are simply here for good company and conversation with like-minded individuals. This like-mindedness need not always be on kinky or sexual themes. In the course of an evening, conversational topics can meander and digress into realms of the intellectual, the mundane, the hilarious—the stuff of any other meet-up. Though the demographic tends to skew towards hetero, this group is open to all types, preferences, perspectives, and persuasions. From rope enthusiasts interested in Shibari and suspension to D/s couples discussing “jewelry” repair, this meet-up can be an excellent resource for information, recommendations, networking, and even party invites.

Expect a friendly, relaxed atmosphere with none of the desperate, predatory feel often encountered in the bar/club scene (especially if you’re a solo female). Here people tend to be very respectful of personal boundaries or of relationship mementos like rings or collars—and those who are not respectful tend not to be welcome long in the group. So if you’ve been looking to get your foot in the door to the kink scene, drop by the International English-Speaking Meet-Up for a drink and a

Night Life

4 BERLIN CLUB NIGHTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT By Berlin Disaster 1. Bodyrole The quirky, creative minds behind Bodyrole, a club night which started earlier this year, featured Lotic headlining their first event—talk about setting the bar high! Their imagery says a lot about them: they are obsessed with today’s pop culture, worship the internet and are using SoundCloud the way Myspace was back in the old days, discovering and booking the hottest acts for your listening pleasure. Their last event, which took place at Chesters, featured Chilean reggaeton singer Tomasa Del Real who performed a only a 15-minute gig because, well, she didn’t have more material yet. What really sets them apart is their uncompromising taste which they put to good use by collaborating with the most interesting people, such as the youngsters behind Mainz-based collective Sucuk und Bratwurst or fashion label cunt13. Their next event is scheduled for September 4th – don’t miss out. Or keep your eyes peeled for the next ones! 2. WeBoogie WeBoogie was founded a few years ago and has been hosting quality events ever since. Their hearts beat for the bass and their sound is a joyful combination of pop, hip-hop and electronic music. In the past they have teamed up with super cool French music label ClekClekBoom and have quite a flair for throwing unforgettable parties. Oh, and did we mention most of their events include pizza? If the idea of dancing to smooth beats while stuffing your face with gooey, melted cheese doesn’t make you salivate in anticipation—I feel bad for you, son. 3. Noisekölln

chat. Meeting face-to-face with other kinksters helps to dispel the mystique or the tantalizing sense of the Verboten associated with BDSM, thus opening up new doors, encouraging new exchanges and new experiences, and creating a new sense of community. Café Endlos @ Knaack Strasse 43 1st and 3rd Friday of every month @ 20:00 Cost: whatever you order to eat/drink Dress: casual

Founded in 2010, Noisekölln is a monthly event that does a great job promoting some amazing acts. Their parties rotate between diverse venues such as Acud Macht Neu and Griessmühle and include both club nights and concerts. Today, Noisekölln is also a label releasing mindblowing tapes with the founder’s own taste as sole curatorial guide. This event started out guerrilla-style in a pre-gentrified Neukölln basement that could only accommodate 20 people and wants to be the answer to “all that branded, sponsored bullshit parties”. Sounds good to us! 4. UnReaL UnReaL is the perfect embodiment of Berlin’s dark, edgy, health-goth vibe. The collective behind this online magazine slash party series comprises the coolest people you can imagine, and they have made it their mission to open your musical mind by presenting you with the next big things. Think of them as the cooler older sister you never had. Past headliners include Mykki Blanco and Cakes Da Killa as well as a myriad of incredible genrenonspecific artists you wish you hadn’t missed out on.

Food

PRENZLAUER BERG EAT FOR 4€ THIS LUNCHTIME By Alice Higgins Even Prenzlauer Berg can be cheap as chips if you know where to look. Escaping from the daily grind every lunch time means I have grown familiar with the streets surrounding U-Bahnhof Eberswalderstrase. It’s no secret that P’berg is the gentrified, yummy mummy upmarket queen of the capital, but that you can bag more than a Brötchen or two for your 4€ is perhaps less well known. Its café culture eat your heart out. But check out what doesn’t eat up your savings…

FAST RABBIT / EBERSWALDER STR. 1 Not only the fastest but most tasty vegan food about. An offering of wraps, rolls, soups, salads and smoothies await you. The combos on offer provide the perfect lunch meal deal but all you need to satisfy your hunger is the Salat Teller. By far the most impressive salad I have ever eaten. And it sure does fill a hole what with bread included for the 4€. Get more than your five a day with this fun and fancy beetroot, mushroom, couscous, cauliflower and hummus packed salad plate.

PANE E VINO/ KASTANIENALLEE 2 We’re spoilt for choice when it comes to Italian food in Berlin, this pizza place wins hands down based on value for money. The cheap and cheerful cheese is served on the perfect stone oven crust. But it’s not just the margarita that’s a bargain. Load your dough up with Parma ham, rocket, mozzarella or spicy sausage and pay the grand total of 3.90€. Even if you’re no pizza fan this menu offers an extensive range of 3.90€ dishes including whopping great portions of salad. Soak up the atmosphere in this buzzing Italian local.

ACETO LOKANTA/ KASTANIENALLEE 29 Next door but two, there is some stiff Italian competition on Kastanianallee. Pizzas, gnocchi, risotto and omelettes priced identically to its neighbour, there is little difference between these two. At 3.90€ (or 2.90€ if you like a fuss free pizza) the price is right. Admittedly lacking the Italian authenticity that Pane e Vino creates, it does, however, send you on your way with an extra load of carbohydrates with their free freshly baked bread rolls. When hunger strikes, this is the place for you and your grumbling stomach.

CHICKPEAS AND FRIENDS/ SCHÖNHAUSER ALLEE 44 Put Falafel Friday in the diary and tell all your friends. This is another no brainer. schawarma or falafel, you can fill your pitta to the brim from just 3€. And then go crazy at the salad buffet to top it off. It’s fresh and it’s homemade – and just ridiculously good.

OISHII DOG/ SCHÖNHAUSER ALLEE 65 This place is barking. A bit of a wild card and slightly over budget at 4.50€ but this place is one of a kind. Expect a hot dog crossbreed where Japanese and American cultures meet slap bang in the middle of a big sesame topped bun. Choose a culture clash dog topped with the likes of shiso, wakame, teriyaki or sauerkraut to keep the locals happy. You can go vegan, veggie or double the meat if you so desire. Whatever dog tickles your adventurous taste buds, you will not be disappointed when you see the sushi boat it’s served in!

Food

HUNGRY? Get Your Teeth Into The Bite Club

By Laura Bithell

ew things are more satisfying than chilling by the river in the sunshine with a beer in your hand, but add some delicious street food and you’re in paradise.

With the arrival of summer comes “Bite Club”, an unmissable addition to the banks of the Spree. This festival of food and music sets up every other Friday right next to one of Berlin’s best summer locations, the Badeschiff. You can grab a tasty bite to eat, then pop next door for a cool drink by the water and a dip in the open air pool. So what exactly is on offer? Described by its creators as marrying the party vibe of a Brooklyn food fair with all the excitement of an Asian night market, it’s clear they’re aiming for fun and variety. From breakfast burritos to Jamaican jerk chicken, you’ll discover a range of international cuisines for every meal of the day. Many stalls also feature a vegetarian or vegan option, so there’s something for everyone. The food is a little pricier than your average Berlin food stall, but it’s worth it for the quality and freshness of the food provided by these local traders. You can even drool over pictures of the tasty treats on the

Bite Club website before your visit. And it’s not just about the food – Bite Club aims to create a fun, sociable atmosphere inspired by the “freewheeling nature” of the city. A concept dreamed up by food writer Tommy Tannock and design editor Miranda Zahediah, Bite Club has been in full swing for two years. Each event runs from mid-afternoon until midnight with colourful banners and signs decorating the space and a DJ set up on the sand. You can sit among the brightly coloured food trucks listening to disco music or hop on board the Hoppetosse boat for a drink or two. From the deck you can admire a postcard-worthy view of Berlin, complete with the famous TV tower on one side and the giant Molecule Man sculpture on the other. On 31 July they celebrated with a birthday barbeque on the vintage Hoppetosse boat, but Bite Club has also been known to pop up at various other locations in the city. Check out the Bite Club website for more information on their other services and future events! BiteClub.de

Tips

GERMAN FREELANCER VISA:

A Guide to Surviving By Lucas Haas

Before I came to Germany, I started researching the topic of what kind of Visa I could apply for. Believe me, the first step is the biggest headache. Four months later I found a solution called the “Freelancer Visa.” The Freelancer Visa allows you to work in Germany if you comply with certain requirements. There are, however, some details that people don’t tell you. I will share my experience and hopefully this will help.

THE BEGINNING: WHERE YOU COME FROM This sound stupid, but it is true. Citizens from US, Canada, Australia, Israel and few some other countries can apply for a visa after entering in Germany. Citizens from other countries must apply for a visa before entering Germany. If you come from a country that requires you to obtain a visa before entering, then the German Consulate in your country will issue it to you. You will receive a 90-day visa that is similar to the tourist one, but it allows you to work. As soon as you arrive in Germany you will need to apply for a Residence Permit by doing the following steps: Pro-tip: Contact the Germany Consulate in your

country before planning your travel to verify if you must apply before or after your arrival. Be stubborn: sometimes they don’t thoroughly explain.

THE BASIC PAPERWORK Keep in mind that Germany is very traditional about some procedures, but not complicated once you have everything ready and well organised. You will need to register as a resident at the Bürgeramt, open a Bank Account, get Health Insurance and prove that you can handle yourself. I will be clarifying these steps as we move ahead.

THE WHOLE PROCESS Once everything is done you need to book an appointment at the Ausländerbehörde (https:// service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/305249/en). Be quick, sometimes appointments are not available for the next 2 months. Bring all necessary documents for the interview. Note: There are two kinds of Freelancer visas: The Freelancer as well and the Artist visa. The difference is that under the Freelancer visa you can be in any profession and the processing time takes up to 3

Tips

months. The Artist visa is usually limited to artists and journalists and in many cases you get approved or rejected in the same day (his is perfect if you need to start working right away). This sounds scary, but I have to say that I had a great experience at the Ausländerbehörde. During the interview, the guy interviewing me was kind and answered all of my questions.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO APPLY This list is organised in order of priority based on my experience. Register as resident: You’ll need to register as a resident at the Bürgeramt. They will issue your Anmeldung, the essential document for you to start doing anything official in Germany. Bring your proof of residence (rental, contract or a letter from your roommate proving that you live there) and passport. Bank Account: If you don’t want headaches and credit card issues, you can open a bank account with a smaller bank. I highly recommend GLS Bank; simple and efficient service and you can withdraw your money from many of ATMs free of charge. Health Insurance: If you are afraid to get a longterm health insurance before you receive an answer, you can get travel health insurance for 3+ months. Mavista has good options for students and freelancers. You can take short as well as long terms insurance with Mavisa. 2 Biometric Photos: In Berlin, you can find Photo Machines (Passbilder) in some Train stations (Anhalter Bahnhof, Nollendorf Platz, Zehnlendorf and Turmanstraße are some of them). At these machines you pay 6 € and get 4 biometric photos in the standard size. The application form: You will need to complete the Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels and bring it along with your passport, of course. There is a fee you need to pay after the interview. The fee ranges between 50–110 €. For Turkish citizens, the fee is no more than 28,80 €. Bank Statement: The more money in your account, the better. You don’t need to be fancy but it needs to look safe. I personally recommend you to have enough money for three months of expenses. Profit & Loss statement: A basic sheet showing your expenses and revenues for the next 12+ months. Don’t forget to include 19% income tax and your health insurance. Business plan: An introduction about your business and how you are going to generate new clients. CV + Cover Letter: You need to prove your experience in the field. In Germany the

Cover Letter needs to be very specific. Printed Portfolio: Bring at least 6 samples of your work. No need to be fancy but it does need to be printed,even if you are a web designer. Recommendation Letters: Basically, letters from companies you are going to work for. Please note they don’t need to be German companies. However, contracts or letters from German companies, written in German is even better.

THE RESPONSE If your application falls into the Artist visa category, it is possible that you will be approved or rejected in the same day. Otherwise, your application will be sent to the Bundesagentur für Arbeit for a better review and this can take up to three months. Usually, the interview takes no more than 10 minutes if your documentation is correct.

AFTER YOUR APPROVAL Before you start working, you will need a Tax ID. This is necessary to generate invoices to bill your clients. After you get your visa/permit, find a Tax accountant to help you. The process sounds complicated, but it is not once you have everything clear. Do you have a different experience? I’ll be glad to hear! Feel free to ask me if you have further questions. @nebenderWelt

DIEM

DOES IT EVEN MATTER From Brooklyn to Berlin

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