It’s official now:
The Fat Cat will close its doors at the end of September.
For me, this marks the end of a place where I’ve found a home for my creative projects over the past few years. And even though it was clear from the start that the Fat Cat was only intended as a temporary space, its closure still feels like a great loss.
After all, the Fat Cat was unlike anything Munich had seen before. It wasn’t just a building with an unusually large amount of space for creative people; above all, it was a large and diverse community.
Musicians, filmmakers, photographers, painters, theater artists, authors, and many other creative people worked, experimented, and exchanged ideas here. People from a wide variety of fields came together—and it was precisely this that gave rise to a unique blend of inspiration, collaboration, and spontaneous encounters.
Another special feature was that, in addition to art studios and workspaces, there were ample event spaces to bring one’s own ideas to life right on site. Exhibitions, concerts, theater performances, workshops, and much more took place here. My project “People of Fat Cat” also originated there.
Thus, the Fat Cat became a place where people not only worked but also experimented, discussed, and created something together. Numerous collaborations and projects emerged from this special atmosphere.
Now this chapter is coming to an end.
It was clear from the start that the Fat Cat was intended only as a temporary use. Nevertheless, it’s a shame that such a place is disappearing—and above all, that so far there’s no real prospect in sight for how a similarly intensive use of space for the free and independent cultural scene can be continued elsewhere.
Because the Fat Cat has shown that it works. When creative people have space at their disposal and opportunities for events and encounters are created at the same time, the result is far more than just a collection of studios. A vibrant community emerges.
To show what made the Fat Cat so special, the diversity that flourished there, and the needs of the creative scene, I’ve put together a magazine about the Fat Cat together with a few fellow collaborators.
It features numerous photographs, interviews, and personal accounts from people at the Fat Cat—supplemented by contributions from people who observed the place from the outside.
On the one hand, the magazine is meant to serve as a memento of this special place; on the other hand, it also aims to show what Munich stands to lose when spaces like this disappear. That’s why the magazines are also being distributed to city council members and decision-makers in the cultural sector.
Perhaps this will spark a few ideas. Maybe a new space will open up in Munich after all, where something similar can take root.
And now?
For me personally, at least, life goes on: I’ve already found a new studio a few weeks ago. Many others, however, are still searching.
And even though the Fat Cat was originally intended only as a temporary space, it has shaped Munich’s cultural landscape in recent years. That significance shouldn’t simply disappear with the end of its use.
I’m curious to see how Munich will continue to develop in this regard. Maybe we don’t necessarily need a new Fat Cat. But we do need spaces, opportunities, and the will to make such places possible in the future as well.
Because creativity doesn’t just need ideas.
It also needs space.
If anyone has tips on suitable spaces for creative projects or is interested in the Fat Cat magazine, please feel free to contact me.
Back in spring, I’d already mentioned several times that I was working on a major photography project at Werksviertel Mitte and would share more about it soon. But then a few things got in the way—moving my studio, other projects, and, of course, the usual craziness.
So it’s great that I’ve now realized: The first results will actually be on display soon. So it’s high time to finally share a little more about the project!
What’s it about?
It’s no coincidence, of course, that the photographs were taken in Werksviertel Mitte. After all, the area itself is at the heart of the project.
I’m particularly interested in the enormous transformation this place has undergone over the past 30 years from an industrial factory complex to the diverse and vibrant neighborhood that has emerged there today.
As part of the project, I visited numerous places and spaces around Werksviertel and got to know and photograph a wide variety of people—people who are the heart of these places and who help shape the quarter in their own unique ways.
The photographs are complemented by in-depth interviews conducted on-site. Thus, the focus is not only on the spaces themselves, but above all on the stories and people behind them.
And, of course, the project isn’t meant to remain solely on my hard drive.
In October, there will be an exhibition right in the Werksviertel Mitte, where the resulting photographs will be on public display for the first time. In addition, a magazine about the project will be published, which will also be available at the exhibition.
I’m really looking forward to finally being able to share the project with you.
So: Stay tuned! The official invitation to the exhibition will follow here shortly.
Update: The site of the exhibition is now online: Photo exhibition "T RÄUME"
It ended up being three years—three wonderful and inspiring years with my studio at “Fat Cat” in the heart of Munich.
During this time, I had many exciting encounters and made new connections. In particular, the unique mix of creative people from very different backgrounds and with very different ways of working who came together in this building is what made the Fat Cat such a special place for me.
Now, however, it’s time to say goodbye: The City of Munich has decided to close the building this fall for a comprehensive renovation. For me, that meant setting out once again in search of new space.
I’ve been at “Candy” for a few weeks now. Everything here is a little smaller than at the Fat Cat, but no less beautiful. There’s a vibrant community of creative people here as well, and I’m really looking forward to getting to know this new space and seeing what will take shape here in the coming years.
I’m excited about this new chapter—and one thing is already certain: The opening of my new studio is already in the works!
What comes after social media? The same thing, just with a different name? Or are we perhaps even heading back to the analog world?
I’m hearing from more and more people who are fed up with constantly having to submit to the rules and algorithms of major platforms, instead of simply sharing and showcasing what moves them and what they’re creatively engaged in. And above all: they’re fed up with the dependence that comes with it.
I, too, have felt less and less motivated to post on social media in recent months. Sometimes it feels too much like you have to adapt to the platforms’ rhythms and trends just to be seen at all.
Yet independence has always been important to me. That’s why I’ve had my own website for about 25 years now—a space that belongs to me and that I can shape myself, regardless of what’s currently trending on Instagram, Facebook, and the like.
That’s why I’ve decided to make greater use of this space again and start a blog. Here, I’d like to regularly report on my projects, offer insights into my work, and share everything that might otherwise end up on social media.
I’ll still be active on social media. But I don’t want to compromise myself just because an algorithm happens to favor this or that trend. I want to decide for myself again what I show, when I show it, and above all: why.
And maybe, in the end, it’s not even about being digital or analog. It’s about the possibility of combining the two.
That’s why I’d like to create more real-life encounters again in the future—at exhibitions both big and small, at gatherings in my studio, and together with other creatives.
Because as wonderful as digital spaces are, the most exciting things often still happen when people actually meet in person.
