The final outcome was a series of investigations in the form of posters and receipts titled Graphic Reconstructions of Kreuzberg, Berlin. The content used in the posters came from transaction-based ephemera, and the content used in the receipts came from advertising-
based ephemera. This was done to inverse the media form typically used to view each kind of information, for example information typically hidden on the back of a receipt was easily viewed on a large poster, and vice versa. This was done as a tool to evaluate transaction language, consumption and selling patterns and the locality of Kreuzberg. The inversion of media was used to “make strange” and change the context in which these items are normally seen, in an effort to reexamine cultural patterns and information that normally go unseen. The posters were placed back in the original site of Berlin.
Poster Series: The content used in the posters came from the transaction-based ephemera (receipts, tickets). By placing the content of transactions in a different context it highlights the tone, voice and attitude of exchange between individuals and business.
Series 01: Transaction Language. This series of posters examines the language of transaction and its role in our culture. All content featured on the posters was pulled directly from the original artifacts (ephemera) found in Kreuzberg, Berlin. All the text was translated into English. This series aims to change the context in which this language is usually seen. It highlights the business language, disclaimers, and legal restrictions that surround us on an everyday basis, but mostly go unnoticed because they are on receipts, tickets and other items that are usually discarded or just too small to be noticed. In searching for the identity of Kreuzberg through its ephemera, one finds a globalized and “businessfied” culture that in many ways looks like many other parts of the western world.
Series 02: Consumption Patterns. This series examines the consumption patterns of the inhabitants of Kreuzberg, Berlin. It asks the question: Can the identity of a community be seen by looking at what it consumes? The analysis reveals certain trends in activities and behaviors. A number of prepaid phone cards reveal a transitory nature of some of the neighborhood’s inhabitants. German sausage purchases appear regularly on most supermarket receipts. And we see purchases of stimulants to power engines (benzine) and people (nicotine and caffeine) occurring at gas stations. As with any archeological collection, some records of activity are missing. For example, condom purchases are frequently made at gas stations when other stores are closed, but no record of these purchases were found on the discarded receipts. Other more ephemeral transactions like visits to bars, clubs or open markets don’t offer receipts.
Series 03: Locality. This series of posters examines the patterns of information found on transaction ephemera (receipts, tickets) from Kreuzberg, Berlin. This includes times and locations of purchases, travel purchase patterns, the use of different languages in transactions, and lineage of names. Most of the transactions take place in Kreuzberg and its neighboring district of Neukölln, which both have a high Turkish population. Receipts from the countries of Italy, Spain and other cities in Germany indicate a traveling population in Kreuzberg. The neighborhood’s hours of operation are revealed from the time stamps found on its receipts and tickets. Regular hours of business run from 8am to 8pm. Purchases that fall outside of these normal business hours take place at gas stations, which are open all hours. Shopping activity tends to happen at the beginning and end of the week, with not much activity in the middle. U-bahn travel peaks during business hours.
Receipt Series: The content used in the posters came from the advertising-based ephemera (posters, flyers). By placing the content of advertising in a different context it highlights the tone, voice and attitude used for selling.
Series 01: Advertising Language. This series of receipts examines the advertising language found on discarded posters and flyers from Kreuzberg, Berlin. It takes the language of advertising and places it in the context of receipt to highlight the difference in tone, voice, and attitude used for selling. The primary language for posters and flyers for anything involving music including clubs, parties and shows is English, and the tone and voice is usually playful and incorporates descriptions of sounds such as “noise” and “loudly”. The primary language for local and business flyers is German with smaller phrases in English.
Series 02: Selling Patterns. This series of receipts examines the selling patterns of advertisements found in Kreuzberg, Berlin. It asks the question: Can the identity of a community be seen by looking at what it sells? The analysis reveals very affordable apartments, a plethora of cheap printing and copy services (making it easy and affordable to print advertisements), calling plans instead of prepaid options, not so frequent yoga classes and many different DJs spinning any kind of music one might desire.
Series 03: Locality. This series of receipts examines the patterns of information found on advertising-based ephemera from Kreuzberg, Berlin. It takes these patterns of information and looks for specific insights about what the culture of Kreuzberg looks like when extracted from advertisements. This includes times and locations of events, mobile phone vs. landline usage, the role different languages play in advertising and the use of local website domains (.de) versus other types (.com). Most of the advertised events take place in Kreuzberg (west Berlin), and Mitte, Friedrichshain (east Berlin). This analysis reveals Kreuzberg as one of the main players that contributes to Berlin’s nightlife. The starting times of events also add to the image of a neighborhood “open all night” with many events beginning at midnight.
Installation and Network
The final series of posters were installed back in the original site, to provide a reflection of identity back to the community of Kreuzberg, Berlin. The posters were installed on the walls and along the streets of the original collection site. The posters contained unusual phrases that didn’t direct the viewer to a specific event or provide a time, but instead sought to draw them in closer. On each poster there was the website address for www.designarcheology.com where viewers could learn more about the project.
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