ARTISTS’ AIR: BERLIN

Undeniably, current times have led artists to a place of loss and strife. Simultaneously in this chaotic experience, it seems that the gift of time has offered artists the opportunity to a deeper understanding of what it is to be a creative in this world today. I spoke with three Berlin-based artists to discuss how this time of pandemic has shaped and directed their current lifestyles and minds of thought. Ideas of honesty, communication, and a true sense taking time were revealed as some common thread between artists Sina Lesnik, Dana Pajarillaga, and Yaffra as we exchanged how this pause in life has provided entire new realizations for all of us individually. 

Taking in the unforeseen reality that is now, these artists explained that an honesty within themselves has proven to be one the most prominent feelings exposed. When speaking of how she goes about her craft and inspiration, Sina Lesnik (she/her), a German native with Slovenian culture and a Berlin-based visual artist and creator, expressed that when actualizing ideas, “it always has to come from a very true and honest place within myself, I don’t really look so much outside for things, I’m always trying to look more inside”. Producing work as a photographer and filmmaker, Lesnik constantly holds the opportunity and outlet for further visual representation of art. Thus, breaking barriers of the expectation to what can or could be visual appealing as said “visual art”. In the same, dancer Dana Pajarillaga (she/hers), a Filipino-American who is currently dancing with Staatsballett Berlin, expressed that she too has found an honesty during this time. Since Covid broke out, Pajarillaga allowed herself to break from the rigorous demands of her art form; a needed detach that allowed her to establish and indulge in more of her personal relationships not only with people, but also with herself. Months later, after distance from creation and craft, her and her partner (Lukas Malkowski) were given an opportunity to compose a new work for live audience. Pajarillaga expressed that even with such a separation from the physical and mental space from art, she and Malkowski realized they had been living in an endless composition solely: “Our process is the way we live our life together, so throughout this whole time we have been creating something, we have been having a dialogue about whats happening in the world around us. We share space together, we share these thoughts together, and I realized that is part of art”. Just as this distance and pause has directly effected all artists in rather heartbreaking circumstances, Yaffra (he/his), a musician hailing from London and of Ghanaian and English heritage, acknowledged that within this quarantine “time has afforded a ritual, a daily practice, a mantra” for him and his artistic being. He was able again to delve into his work to conceive and finalize ideas and makings that have been existent for some time now, and this quarantine allowed the commitment and drive to self release new music (check him out of Band Camp).

More common discoveries amongst these artists was the relation of oneself to others, the exchange of love, and how taking care generates strides of healthy and fulfilling experiences. For the first time in our artistic lives, we have been given the affordability and ability of time: taking the time, realizing the time, and using the to time our own true desire. Though this specific atmosphere has recently felt limited, the “illusion of security and freedom has been broken by time” explains Lesnik. She continued to dive into explanation of how her self-evolution has been an honest delayering experience of her inner self, what things in this world ignite her being, and how to live a human life with many artistic passions. Just as well, Pajarillaga magnifies how distance revealed her true loves. “At the beginning there was a pressure to produce things” stated Pajarillaga, which lead her to take the distance from such pressure that the arts can emanate, and allowed herself to delve into her own way of creation through life. Although he found things perhaps in a opposite direction when it came to producing his art, Yaffra found this given time an opportunity to conquer the fear of vulnerability to finish and solidify work with intent to share. Reaching out passed his music, Yaffra admits his personal reservation as a “natural isolator”.  He admitted questioning himself of “what joy am I potentially denying myself of building community?… “ And that “[he] did think a lot about community during this time, more than I ever have”. Something of new essence to enter prominence in his own thought process.

Between all three of these incredible artists, I found that this time of the pandemic has been filled with fears of unknown, heartbreak, and complete rediscovery. We as artists were challenged to keep going through times of unforeseen closure, but as passion powered over obstacles, our community (through individuality) conquered the greatest accomplishment: an endless devotion to continue forward, and now, with the greatest understanding of self worth and want we all could have imagined.

SUPPORT THESE ARTISTS!

SINA LESNIK
(she/her)
Visual artist/creator 
@sinalesnik

DANA PAJARILLAGA
(she/her)
dancer/creator
@danapaja 
www.why-are-we-like-this.com
(photos by Pippa Samaya)

YAFFRA 
(he/his)
Musician
@planetyaffra
www.yaffra.bandcamp.com