Utopia
Magdalena Peralta Widow
All rights reserved Š2013 Magdalena Peralta
Utopia Magdalena Peralta Widow
As photographers, our eyes are what define us. Some people see beautiful landscapes. Some people see the world at a macro level. But some people see themselves in others. It’s that reflection of ourselves that ultimately allows us to see the potential in someone else. That ‘potential‘ can give us magic. Lara Jade
Utopia is a compilation of 20 portraits of foreigners living in Berlin for a particular reason. The photos were taken between January and May 2013 in different places from Berlin, Germany. Besides the photos, the book tells a short story from each person. The photos were taken at their favorite places. The reason was to discover which places of Berlin remind these foreigners their homes. Everyone I photographed, besides to tell their storys, they describe Berlin in one sentence.
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“Destruction and creation� Brian Tennessee Claflin
Brian Tennessee Claflin was born in Idaho, USA. Since 2007 Brian lives in Berlin. He came to the german capital because of the art, music and alternative queer scenes, but above all for freedom and the good quality of living. The city offers relatively cheap prices, compared with other major cities in the world. He describes Berlin as destruction & creation.
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“Poor but sexy� Erin Nelson
Erin Cassidy Nelson was born in Berkeley, California. A year and a half ago she moved to Berlin. Her favorite place is Weinberg Park. She came to Berlin because she was in love with a German man and also wanted some adventure in Europe. Erin finds that Berlin is poor but sexy.
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“The best place” Anin Valerie Heinrich
Anin Valerie Heinrich was born in Côte d’Ivoire, Africa. She has lived in Berlin for the past thirteen years. She came to Berlin because she fell in love with a German man. When she is not at work, she spends the most of her time at home with her family in Kreuzberg. For her the best area in the German city. She believes Berlin is the best place to be.
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“An utopia” Juan del Moral
Juan del Moral was born in Madrid, Spain. He lives between Berlin and Spain. When he has time, he loves to chill with friend in Mauerpark. He describes Berlin as an utopia within Europe. It´s a city full of history, art, modernity and vanguard spirit.
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“Moody winters and never-ending summer nights” Una Šuput
Una Šuput was born in Salzburg, Austria but her nationality is Serbian. She came to Berlin with her parents in 2000 because of her father´s job. After a couple of years here, her family had to move away to another city, but she decided to stay to start studying at the university. She loves the Märchenbrunnen in Volkspark Friedrichshain. For her, Berlin has moody winters and never-ending summer nights.
“It’s not Germany, it’s Berlin!” Vladimir Barrios Avila
Vladimir Barrios Avila was born in Cartagena, Colombia. About six month ago he came to Berlin because he found love here and wanted to study a Master. His favorite place is Bücherbaum in Kollwitz Platz, Prenzlauer Berg. For Vladimir it´s not Gemany, it´s Berlin!
“Multikulti� Magdalena Sorgenlos
Magdalena Sorgenlos was born in Czestochowa, Poland. For thirty-two years she has lived in the German capital. She loves to stay at home in her house in Wannsee. She came to Berlin because she wanted to experience something different, but also not so far away from Poland. She describes Berlin as Multikulti, a colorful city in every aspect.
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“Extravagant and smelly� Julia Phuong Nhi Nguyen
Julia Phuong Nhi Nguyen was born in Kandel, Pfalz, Germany but her family comes from Vietman. She came to Berlin three years ago cause she wanted get away from a small town and study. Her favorite place is Rosenthaler Platz. Julia finds this city extravagant and smelly.
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“The place all the world should be” Eliyahu Saban
Eliyahu Saban was born in Israel. He has lived in Berlin for two years. The place he loves the most in Berlin is Görlitzer Park. He came because he was in love. Eli says that Berlin is the place all the world should be.
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“A place to find yourself � Natascha Eliarson
Natasha Eliason was born in Johannesburg. She has been living in Berlin for the past ten years. Her reason to come was for a better future with more opportunities. She said her favorite place to be is at home. She describes Berlin as a place to find yourself.
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“Poor and sexy� Pietro Spirito
Pietro was born in Puglia, Italy. He came to Berlin in 2008. He loves to spend as much time as possible in his Atelier. Pietro decided to come because this city is a good place to grow for an artist. He describes Berlin as poor and sexy.
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“A multi culti town� Winnie Njeri Nganga
Winnie Njeri Nganga was born in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2002 she left her home to come to Berlin cause she was inlove, wanted to make a family, settle down and study in Europe. When she has time, she loves to visit Alexanderplatz. For her, Berlin is a multi culti town.
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“Worth the trip� Robert Chzanowshi
Robert Chzanowski was born in Czestochowa, Poland. He have been living in Berlin for the past thirty-two years. His favorite place is Wannsee. His reason to come was adventure. He says that Berlin worth the trip.
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“The place to find yourself� Lydia Thomsen
Lydia Thomsen was born in Hastings, New Zealand. Since August 13th 2012 she has been in this city. She likes to walk along the Fehrbelliner street in Prenzlauer Berg because it reminds her of the first times in Berlin. She came to this city because her dream since she was a kid, was to study, work and live in an European city. She says that Berlin is the place to find yourself.
“The mix of beautiful and ugly people, but always lively and interesting� Milan Markovic
Milan Markovic was born in Belgrad, Serbia. Since March 2007 he has lived in Berlin. What he likes most in this German city are the Museums, specially the Pergamon, the cementery Jewish in Weissensee and Bergmann street. In 2007 he had to choose another place to live and he was between Istanbul or Berlin. He chose Berlin cause of the German culture of trust. Milan describes Berlin as the mix of beautiful and ugly people, but always lively and interesting.
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“A beautiful green city with the fragrance of love in the air� Vera Kostenko
Vera Kostenko was born in Russia in a small town called Baley, but she grew up in Odessa, Ukraine. She have been living in Berlin since December, 2012. After spending two years in England, her husband wanted to return to Berlin, the city he grew up in and loved. Unter den Linden is the Berlin street she likes the most because it reminds Vera of Primorsky Boulevard in Odessa. She describes Berlin as a beautiful green city with the fragrance of love in the air.
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“Gives you the feeling of living in a huge shared flat, which you share with its 3,5 million inhabitants” Juan Camilo Roa Caballero
Juan Camilo Roa Caballero was born in Bogotá, Colombia. He has lived in Berlin for eight years. His favorite place is the Tempelhof Airport, now turned into a park. He wanted to improve his German so he decided to come to the German capital. The city captivated him in such a way, that Camilo decided to stay and one year turned into eight years already. He says that this city gives you the feeling of living in a huge shared flat, which you share with its 3,5 million inhabitants.
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“Urban jungle� Manjascha Vlada Tchernysch
Manjascha Vlada Tchernysch was born in Kiew, Ukraine. When she was nine years old, she and her mother decided to settle down in Munich. In 2010, Manjascha moved to Berlin to start studying at the University. What she likes most in this city are the Parks and all the places that show a little bit of nature. For her, Berlin smell like an urban jungle.
“Giving boundless space” Mateusz Iwulski
Mateusz Iwulski was born in Racibórz, Poland. Ten years ago he settled down in Berlin. In the summer, he spends most of his free time at Badeschiff on the Spree and Weinberg Park in Mitte. Mateusz came here because he visited the city many times and always had the feeling that it was home. One sentence he would use to describe Berlin would be, “giving boundless space”.
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