THE BURDEN OF IDENTITY

(1998)

In 1998, invited to do a project in Berlin as a follow up on "War Story", I chose to photograph Jews living there today. The Jewish community in Berlin is growing steadily, fed most recently from the east, from the collapsed Soviet Union. Starting with a few introductions I built up a network of people, trying to reach as broad a spectrum as possible. I made the portraits out in the streets of the city, asking each person to chose a place that was particularly meaningful, and while I photographed them they related their story, of how the came to live in Berlin, and of why they wanted to live there. Through the places which they selected for their portraits I found a city that mirrored their own inner conflicts; a city burdened by its own struggle to define its identity.

"The Burden of Identity" consists of 23 portraits and 9 views of Berlin, edition in a set of 5. The portraits range in size from 7 x 5 inches to 11 x 9 inches. The views of Berlin are approximately 11 x 2 inches.