Since mid-December, Berlin’s cultural venues have been closed, with many fearing for their existence. This absence of the arts is the inspiration behind Mathias Völzke’s project “No News Today”, the aim of which is to reestablish the streets as places of cultural exchange. Together with colleague Maxie Fischer, the Berlin-based photographer has created a newspaper of sorts, copies of which adorn walls all over the city. Each of the 20 front pages features a different nighttime photo, and together the posters form a whole work over which the tagline “No News Today” is repeatedly emblazoned. The interventions sensitively capture moments and moods, bringing the tumult of urban life to the fore.
Unlike conventional newspapers where you are led from page to page, Völzke’s gazettes make the empty spaces clear, leaving you longing for what isn’t there. The missing story? The culture and creativity that make Berlin worth living in. The result is a thought-provoking project that demands both attention and action, pointedly showing how art can be made fairer and more accessible. Currently the posters can be seen in various public places in Kreuzberg, Neukölln, Friedrichshain and Treptow – Wedding, Prenzlauer Berg and Mitte will follow from 19.2. With the hashtag #NoNewsToday you can share your encounters with the project and highlight how important art is for the city and our own well-being.
Text: Hanna Komornitzyk / Credit: Mathias Völzke & Maxie Fischer
No News Today can currently be seen at the following locations in Berlin, with more spots planned in Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg and Wedding:
Corner of Maybachufer / Lohmühlenbrücke, 12435 Berlin–Treptow; map
Wildenbruchstr. / Weigandufer / Wildenbruchbrücke, 12045 Berlin–Neukölln; map
Weserstr.38, 12045 Berlin–Neukölln; map
Corner of Weserstr. & Reuterstr., 12047 Berlin–Neukölln; map
Corner of Lausitzer Platz & Eisenbahnstr., 10997 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
Corner of Oberbaumstr. & Falckensteinstr., 10997 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
Corner of Boxhagener Platz & Krossener Str., 10245 Berlin–Friedrichshain; map
Wismarplatz, Ecke Boxhagener Str., 10245 Berlin–Friedrichshain; map
Jungstr., 10247 Berlin–Friedrichshain; map
@mthsvlzk
@maxiefischer
