(German for The Apperance of Beauty) is a series of street-drawings in the context of a artist in residency at Leopoldplatz, Berlin. The performative act of drawing directly on the street and the depiction of the grotesque ornaments are meant to attract attention of passersby in an attempt to collaboratively reflect on the future of the area and its challenging social dynamics as it’s known as a hangout for alcoholics and drug addicts. The conversations are documented and used for a publication that will be distributed around Leopoldplatz at the end of the residency. The work is in process until the end of February 2025.
Leopoldplatz is currently being transformed into a friendlier and safer place. Art plays a role in this process, and cultural events aim to make the square more attractive and accessible. The work addresses this gentrification process by focusing on the role of art in the creation of the neighbourhood around Leopoldplatz in the 19th century. The drawings show so-called “apotropaic ornaments” or guardian spirits, mythical creatures, often hybrids of humans, plants and animals, which can be found on house facades surrounding Leopoldplatz. Their grotesque expressions mirror the often rough, pale and lethargic facial expressions of the drug addicts in the area. Originally, these ornaments were intended to ward off evil spirits so that they could not enter the building. During Berlin’s rapid growth in the 19th century, almost all houses were built with this type of decoration. With their lavish decorations, many builders focused more on appearance than quality in order to drive up the price of the houses. The war, but also a change in cultural perception due to new modernist ideals, caused many of the decorations to disappear. The project brings them back to mind by showing a selection of the last remaining ornaments found in Wedding, Berlin.
In recent decades, we have seen a revival of decorative architectural elements as many landlords seek to reconstruct the original look, driven by similar financial motives as their predecessors. Today, an old building apartment is associated with luxury and authenticity, and people are willing to pay a high price, driving up rents and contributing to an unequal distribution of different income groups. Rents are rising steadily, more and more people can no longer afford an apartment and have to move away or end up on the street. Leopoldplatz clearly shows this trend. Residents complain about drug-related crime and burglaries, with homeless people and drug addicts seen as the main culprits. By reintroducing the decorations that once symbolised the luxury and security of a home into the public space, I hope to evoke responses from both residents and the homeless to notions of public space, (social) housing, inclusivity and safety. The drawings of the guardian spirits can have different meanings depending on your point of view. What are the evil forces that need to be warded off here? Are the addicts and homeless the ones that are not welcome or do we need to protect ourselves against those who are responsible for driving up the real estate prices?
