City centres being sold out, underground scenes and neighbourhood identities being displaced, the associated underlying feelings of loss; all these are worldwide phenomena. Today the faces of many cities are characterised by soulless architecture, conformity and surging rents.

Since 2009 Alexander Steffen takes photographs of transient landmarks all over the city, documenting the process of change within the urban environment. Vanishing Berlin captures the places that we will remember wistfully, though we did not think we would ever miss them. Focusing mainly on wastelands, storefronts and brick walls. These places characterise Berlin, but equally they are vanishing at an unprecedented pace.

Alexander Steffen (*1967) was born and raised in West-Berlin. He grew up in a shared flat in Schöneberg, studied Political Sciences at the Freie Universität Berlin, trained at Dirk Nishen publishing house. Discovered Allen Ginsberg and Reality Sandwiches. Edited a photobiography of William S. Burroughs. Spent time exploring the techno clubs and ruins of Berlin’s new centre after the fall of the wall. Was director of the art gallery transition from 1999-2005. Has been working for the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) since 2005. 2009 marks the start of the Vanishing Berlin project.

Photobook: Vanishing Berlin
144 pages, 160 colour images. Format: 20×24 cm, limited offset hardcover edition, Text (German & English) from Friedhelm Böpple & Alexander Steffen, design by Detlev Pusch. € 32 (+ shipping costs). ISBN 978-3-00-056040-8

Editor’s Note:
With PiB you have a chance to win a copy of Alexander’s self-published photobook “Vanishing Berlin”! The first edition was already sold out in January 2017, but luckily the second edition is now available since April.
Simply drop PiB a line until Friday, September 15th 2017 with the subject line “Vanishing Berlin” and answer the following question:
In which traditional store in Berlin did the first exhibition in the “Vanishing Berlin” series take place?
Good luck! The winner will be notified by email on Sunday, Sep 17th.

Sep 9 — 22, 2017
Opening Reception: Friday, Sep 8, 6:30 – 10 pm
Midissage with special guest: Friday, Sep 15, 6:30 – 10 pm
Finissage: Friday, Sep 22, 6:30 – 10 pm

Pudel-Salon

Helmstraße 10, 10827 Berlin
[Schöneberg | Tempelhof-Schöneberg]

Opening hours: Sat & Sun 2 – 5 pm, Wed & Thu 6 – 9 pm, and by appointment

Admission free