"I don't shed a tear for steel and concrete."

Markus Luigs caused a minor sensation with the first volume of "Düsseldorfer Perlen" from 2017: It sold out within three months. With his photography, Luigs has shown an unusual perspective of Düsseldorf, one that is urban, raw and unfiltered. A bit like the song "Wann strahlst du?" by Carsten Meyer and Jaques Palminger, which says: "I love those who can marvel - at the flower on the scrap heap." Markus Luigs discovered the first places he photographed by chance during a business meeting on Höherweg. Now he is out and about as often as possible, exploring the unknown areas of Düsseldorf. Walks, as he calls his forays. He has published the results in the second volume "Düsseldorfer Perlen". Why, why, why? Find out in the 3-question interview.

You have to travel a lot, especially to places you don't usually go to. How can one imagine that? Do you travel deliberately or do you leave it to chance?
The Höherweg was the first street I discovered and the area I made my own. It was a coincidence because I had an appointment there. For me, Höherweg was a street that was considered somewhat dubious and therefore exciting. I saw abstruse places in the corner, beyond all Düsseldorf clichés. Inspired by this, I spent two to three hours a day cycling and walking for a while. I wanted - and still want - to discover and explore places for myself. As a result, I sometimes really think I'm the first person to photograph there. That's why I don't want to get tips. That doesn't work for me because then it would no longer be my discovery.

How did you come up with the book title "Düsseldorfer Perlen"?
At first I wanted to call the photo book "Düsseldorfer Notizen" or "Field Notes aus Düsseldorf". I wanted a title that was more exaggerated. "Düsseldorfer Perlen" is a bit based on the song "Düsseldorf, du schöne Perle am Rhein" (Düsseldorf, you beautiful pearl on the Rhine), but it's also reminiscent of Little Paris. The name of the book is a bit of a provocation, because the photos seem to say the opposite. There are people who react angrily to this. Who feel attacked. But these are my pearls. I don't claim that everyone has to like it.

You are a chronicler who shows the changes in the cityscape and some of the buildings, stalls and places from the first volume no longer exist. In the foreword to the second "Düsseldorfer Perlen", it says that you are sober about the changes in the city. That sounds very detached. Is that true?
Am I a chronicler? I don't know that at all. Much of the book can't be localized, but I still want to document places and their changes. I think there was a time when buildings like the Tausendfüßler, for example, were relevant. But when there is a gap, I find it exciting because something new is coming. On the other hand, it was a huge turning point for me when Mario's Caffé Enuma (Santoro Comune) closed for good. I used to go there every day. You can't replace Mario. Buildings can.

duesseldorferperlen.de

Markus Luigs is a designer and photographer. He has been taking photos for Visit Düsseldorf for many years and is often on location for our interviews, for example with tattoo artist Till Pulpanek. In addition to "Düsseldorfer Perlen", he has also published the illustrated book "Werkschau" with photos from the Vallourec plants in Düsseldorf and Mülheim an der Ruhr and, together with journalist Alexandra Wehrmann, "Oberbilk. Hinterm Bahnhof" - which is now also out of print.

Interview: Cynthia Blasberg
Photos: Markus Luigs
Portrait of Markus Luigs: Andreas Endermann