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Sven Marquardt

Season 3 · Episode 4

Sven Marquardt is one of Berlin’s most iconic celebrities. As the doorman of both the legendary techno clubs Ostgut and Berghain, Marquardt is probably Berlin’s most notorious gate keeper of all time. Although less known to the public, he is also a prolific photographer. From 1982 until the Fall of the Wall in 1989, Marquardt became a chronicler of the intense subculture of the German Democratic Republic in East Berlin. After the reunification of Germany in 1990 he ceased working as a photographer for nearly 13 years, only to reignite his career fervently in 2003. Since then his black-and-white photographs showcasing scenes of lust, violence and passion have been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout Europe. In his STRRR episode, Sven Marquardt talks about his biggest influence, the German film director Rainer Werner Fassbinder, as well as Madonna, Radiohead and Iggy Pop’s 1977 smash hit “Night Clubbing”.

Interview + 2nd Camera: Max Dax, DOP + editing: Lucia Lux, Photo: Lucia Lux, Animations: TOPE, Introduction: Craig Holiday Haynes, backround photograph by Julien Lescoeur, used with kind permission by the artist.