A photographer - young, gay, androgynous - is mobbed and beaten in Berlin. His reaction: he starts an art project against hate and violence. He is still looking for models.
Úlfar, what happened that morning?
I was just leaving the underground with a friend. A guy was standing at the top of the stairs and called out to me: "Hey, ladyboy". I replied, "Excuse me?" and I had his fist in my face. I lay dazed on the floor for a few seconds, my lip bleeding.
How did you react?
I was completely beside myself about this idiot and called the police several times. But they never came. My friend helped me onto a bench and a stranger brought me water. When I was able to think again, I asked my friend to take a photo of me. Just as I was - with a swollen lip and almost crying with rage.
Why did you have your photo taken?
It may sound strange to some people to have a photo taken of themselves after being punched in the face. But I'm a photographer and I know that expressive pictures can be taken in extreme emotional situations. I posted the photo on Facebook two days later and launched an appeal.
What does this call consist of?
I'm looking for people who have been beaten up or spat at over nothing. People who just want to be themselves. I want to photograph them and tell their story. I don't care whether they are straight, gay, black or white or whether they have a disability. Because there are countless reasons for brute force, but no single reason.
You turned the attack into a project ...
Exactly. And I'm already pretty far along. More than 100 people have shared my photo on Facebook. Reactions came from all over the world, from the USA, from South Africa and of course from my home country of Iceland. This has resulted in six photo shoots so far. There should be a few more. The magazine in which I will be publishing the series agrees.
What is your purpose in publishing photos of victims of gratuitous violence?
I want to show that people who dare to be themselves have an inner strength. They are much stronger than those who treat them with hatred. The guy who hit me obviously can't cope with himself and the world. He can't find any other outlet for his feelings than brute force. That's pathetic. Basically, I just feel sorry for this person.
