Manila, Philippines: Berlin nightclub doorman Sven Marquardt will have his first solo exhibition of photographs in the country at the Yuchengco Museum in Makati City. A project 30 years in the making, Future’s Past stands as a collection of black-and-white portraits that examine humanity with intense themes and tell an intimate story about Berlin locals. The exhibition is presented in partnership with Goethe-Institut Philippinen and will be on view from June 29 to August 11, 2017.
Immersed in the punk and techno-club scenes, Marquardt’s works expose the inextricable connection between the future and the past through dark and industrial photographs. Marquardt exclusively works in black and white, capturing both the soft and tough side of different subjects. With people as his focus, one would feel the unshakeable tension evoked by the subjects’ piercing stares.
Zoom In: From troubled child to renowned photographer
Born in 1962, a year after the construction of the Berlin Wall, Sven Marquardt grew up in East Berlin of the socialist German Democratic Republic (GDR). Far from a typical childhood, he was involved in the punk scene during his youth, consequently getting himself into trouble to the extent of being banned from Mitte, east Berlin’s central district.
Marquardt’s dark youth sheds light into his talent, photography. His photographs that were taken during his involvement in the punk scene extensively document East Germany’s subculture at the time. Along with his formal education in photography, he found his own style with the help of photographer and social critic Paris Helga.
The passion for photography continues as Marquardt was later immersed in the loud, yet mysterious world of the techno-club scene. Marquardt worked as a doorman for Berghain, a much talked about nightclub in Berlin, for several years. Marquardt’s work at Berghain became an avenue for him to shoot images that capture the heart and soul of the era, of the culture he was entrenched.
Presently, Marquardt has since been travelling around the globe for his exhibitions. A renowned photographer, he has published several books and worked with established brands and institutions, such as the Ostkreuzschule photography school and the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Art.
Future’s Past is presented by Goethe-Institut Philippinen in partnership with Yuchengco Museum. The exhibition will be on view from June 29 to August 11, 2017. Yuchengco Museum is at RCBC Plaza, corner Ayala and Gil J. Puyat Avenues, Makati City. Museum hours are Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call (632) 889-1234, visit www.yuchengcomuseum.org, or follow @YuchengcoMuseum on social media with the hashtags #SvenMarquardtinMNL and #FuturesPast.
