This section gathers reflections from my travels across different cities and cultural contexts. What began as work-related trips; exhibitions, collaborations, meetings gradually turned into a personal archive of encounters with artists, spaces, and atmospheres.
Each city carries its own rhythm: from the overwhelming scale of Beijing to the quiet intensity of Sofia, from institutional museum halls to small independent galleries hidden in side streets. These notes document not only exhibitions and cultural landmarks, but also the subtle observations that shape how I understand art within its local environment.
Travel, for me, is less about movement and more about perspective; about seeing how creative communities operate, connect, and influence one another across borders.
-
Shanghai, China
One of my favourite cities ever!
I came here with the speed train from Beijing and, even if it’s only a couple hours to ride, you still enter a different world; a new world. It’s probably how I pictured the future as a kid.
Even though absolutely no one speaks a bloody word of English, you get along quite well! The city is very easy. There is the left side and the right side of the river, and you take the metro for everything, which is labeled with colours. “Idiotensicher”, a German would say.
The food was fantastic, since I am a huge dumbling fan, and the cigarettes are crazy strong so you kind of feel high all day, (haha). I had somehow ‘arrived’ in China and, now, I was even more curious about what Chongqing would be like.
-
Chongqing
Chongqing, what can I say. By the time I arrived in the southern capital city, of the Chengdu region, I was mainly hungry.
I never thought I could miss ‘schwarzbrot’ that much. Thanks God, Nour Nouri from Pashmin Art was there. Someone I know, finally. We had a lot of work to do, which distracted me from my urge to, let’s say, not be professional at my job.
Eventually, Anna Van Den Hövel and her husband Felix arrived. I love these guys. I’ve never seen such a match. Fun was back on and Felix went to McDonalds with me. I was happy again.
The exhibition was a full success and all the tension and stress from the last weeks and months fell off like a dragon from the sky. Overall, I loved the trip and I always appreciate new experiences and such challenges. Probably wouldn’t do it again though.
-
Beijing, China
Arriving in the capital of China, I had such high expectations and at the same time did not know what to expect at all. The only familiar place Ive been to was “Good Friends” at Kantstraße, Berlin, I need to admit.
Beijing is one of the largest cities on this planet, and that is exactly how it feels. I felt very lost, but that emotion was combined with great excitement.
Overall, I shamefully have to confess, I am the worst culinary tourist ever. “What the Frontdoor is that”, I thought when being offered my first real Peking Duck ever. Furthermore, the great wall was impressive and I felt like a celebrity at the same time. (Hate that, haha..) Forbidden city was nice too, but extremely crowded. I started to get in the “China on-my-own flow” everyday a little more.
-
Venice
November is an ideal time to visit one of Italy’s many scenic cities: Venice. Not only is the Biennalle on, but the atmosphere is a moody, fog-filled vista, with spots of rain yet still so warm. Surrounded by history and culture, it is difficult not to wonder about the many kinds of people over hundreds of years who have walked these petite streets.
For four days, I caught exhibitions, experienced an interactive opera or dive into the cuisine enthusiastically, but I did not get near enough.
I think I’ll have to go back, and fast.
-
Croatia
Driving from Venice to Croatia is as beautiful as it sounds. Off season in the south of Croatia it is definitely a little difficult to find places to eat on occasion, depending where you stay, but the roads are calm, winding and offer incredible views. Blue skies, faded mountains and green bursting through it all.
Galleries are not open on Mondays, but I caught a very beautiful little exhibition on Saturday 4th in a hidden church up some beautiful stairs in the town of Omiš. There, the photography of Goran Gizdavčić, with Trees as the main subject, caught my eye and my spirit, with wonderful texts beneath each piece.
-
Hamburg
Hamburg is always worth a journey, they say, and I agree. The weather also never disappoints here; It’s raining as usual.
I used to come here a lot when I was younger, but that’s a whole other chapter. This time I came to meet my dear friend and colleague, Nour Nouri, at his Pashmin Art Gallery. Nour has an exhibition tonight and I came earlier to discuss quite a lot from our agenda. First of all, we are going to China together in November to host the Hong Art Museum with a huge collective exhibition. As you can imagine, there is still plenty to discuss. Mainly because I haven’t been to China yet, and Nour is very well traveled in Asia. Furthermore, we reflected on some other artists who I am considering bringing to Bulgaria with me in December.
-
Sofia
It’s mid September and I just arrived in Bulgaria. It is all what I expected and at the same time nothing like it; I like it.
In Berlin we would probably call it a dark romanticism.
I came here to meet Kiril, a good friend of mine who I went to boarding school with. We had this crazy idea to make a collaboration, over lunch and a couple espresso martinis, a couple months ago. And here we are: “It is what it is”, Kiril always says.
Whenever I travel, I always try to be with locals in order to have the fullest experience. This time I was not only with a local but also seemingly with Bulgarias biggest fan. We had a great time. Not only did Kiril introduce me to many great people, like Denitsa from Vivacom Gallery, we also went to Zlatyu Boyadzhiev’s exhibition, who is one of the most famous artists of the country. After three days, many museums and gallery meetings, I went back to the airport with a happy heart, a promising collaboration and little Bulgarian hangover. All together, a wonderful trip.
