Interviews |November 10, 2020

Magical moments in an empty city

Interview with the Düsseldorf photographer Thorsten Schmidtkord

Thorsten Schmidtkord has used this special time to take photos of Düsseldorf that will one day become history. The Düsseldorf photographer has staged people affected by the pandemic-related restrictions at their places of work and performance. In November, 18 motifs can be seen on the almost 40-metre-long LED wall of Kö-Bogen II - as art in public space. In the spotlight: DJ Theo Fitsos on the empty fish market, director Dr. Felix Krämer in front of the closed Kunstpalast and the band Porno Al Forno alone on the Rheinkirmes meadow. The photo project "Lights out. Spot on." was created in collaboration with the city guide THE DORF.

Thorsten Schmidtkord, during the first lockdown you photographed the deserted old town and the airport. They seemed like completely different places. Now you are showing well-known Düsseldorfers in deserted locations in your home city. Why do you do this?

I've always been interested in places that are normally very busy but are suddenly deserted for various reasons. It started with a series of seaside resorts on Mallorca. I photographed locations there in winter that not only seemed empty, but as if they had fallen asleep. I photographed the same places again in summer, with the typical tourists on the beaches. Another series shows the Düsseldorf funfair at six o'clock in the morning. The rides on the Rhine meadows look like a movie set.

Where does the name of the project "Lights off. Spot on."?

It reminds me of the show "Disco" from the 1970s with Ilja Richter. Every program began with this line. I use this sentence as a stylistic device, but also as a key message. The protagonist is at the center of the scene, his place of work is only illuminated by a spotlight. Where normally crowds of people surround the characters, there is an unusual, eerie silence.

And then you just got started in the middle of the pandemic?

It was immediately clear to me that staying at home was not an option. I'm too much of a photographer for that. A chance to create images that had never been taken before. Pictures of contemporary history.

How did you choose the protagonists?

The focus was on the person. I asked myself the question: Who makes sure that people come to Düsseldorf?

Did the camera make Düsseldorf look different to you?

Seeing the locations empty was a new perception that I hadn't known before - and so it was partly magical.

What was the current mood of the Düsseldorfers you photographed?

I felt very grateful that I had thought of them during the project. Many people were hit very hard, then as now. Nobody really knew what would happen next. The artists in particular had a lot of performances and exhibitions coming up.

What is your impression - who has been hit hardest by the crisis: sport, gastronomy or culture?

Sport is now continuing, but many solo self-employed people or companies are also indirectly affected by the crisis. It's all connected somehow. Without spectators in the stadiums, no guests in the hotels, pubs or breweries. Artists are particularly hard hit, however, as there is no takeaway or delivery service for them.

You have also placed a special focus on tourism. How are the flight captain and the hotel manager dealing with the situation?

Like all the protagonists, they love their job and carry it out with passion every day. Everything is connected in a big gear. You can't have one without the other.

And how is the crisis affecting you?

It was also an opportunity for me. I took it despite losing three months' earnings. I take photos for Fortuna Düsseldorf, among others, and was then left high and dry for a while. But even when things continued, I missed something. For me, soccer culture isn't just about the game itself, but also the surroundings. I miss the away trips, the warm-up and the debriefing with a delicious Alt on the Ratinger. The carefree life that Düsseldorf offers.

At which Düsseldorf location would you have photographed yourself for your series?

I think it would have been Ratinger Straße.

What do you like about Düsseldorf?

It's a big city with the advantages of a village. People know each other and help each other. I also noticed that with this project. The city is becoming more and more international with its events, except for soccer (laughs).

If you want to hang Oliver Fink, Thea Ungermann or Theo Fitsos above your couch, where can you buy the photos?

It would be nice to auction or sell one or the other motif for a good cause. There will only be a limited series of 10 per motif. A share of the money will then be made available to the artists or another charitable organization. Please contact us via: [email protected]