Vietnam in Lichtenberg
Matthias Beckmann traces Vietnamese life in Berlin-Lichtenberg in his drawings, which he produces on location, using no photographic equipment. His goal here is neither all-inclusive documentation nor social investigation; instead, he is much more concerned with a direct, personal approach. Acting as a silent observer, he draws things as they are. He awards the same amount of attention to everything he sees, and avoids all value judgements.
Using a pencil, a drawing pad and a small, foldable angler’s stool, this Berlin-based artist visited the ‘Pho Da’ Buddhist pagoda in Marzahner Strasse, kung-fu training at the ‘Nam Hong Son Dynastie’ club, the market on Anton-Saefkow-Platz, a tattoo studio and Berlin’s largest Asian food and goods market in the ‘Dong Xuan Center’ in early 2011.
This project was made possible by support from the district of Lichtenberg’s cultural fund.