Using photo-collages of black and white negative film, this work explores the relationship both between East and West Berlin, and parallel to it, the integration of Occidental and Oriental landscapes. For this project, I photographed architectural icons within the former East Berlin city center against desert Middle Eastern Landscapes.
The Occidental images represent three primary icons of the former East Berlin State which stand today as symbols of unity within German history and identity: the Brandenburger Tor represents the historical center, Alexander television tower represents popular culture, and the Reichstag represents statehood. My query is to explore what happens when East meets West both within historical urban dynamics as well as with contemporary international migration of Eastern communities into the city. Although this coming together can represent a clash of cultures, my intention is to unveil the underlying unifying principles when two apparent polarities meet each other halfway.
