“Neuperlach is the part of the city that is worth discovering – and come and see.” Says Richard, the architect. From Neuperlach. “Yes, Neuperlach identity can be described relatively briefly: NPL 83, Oida!” Says Helmut, the street worker. From Neuperlach. “In my opinion, Neuperlach is a paradise on earth.” Says Erika, who has lived here since 1991. In Neuperlach.
All of these statements are not only booming from the loudspeaker on this autumn evening. You can also see the pictures of the speakers – on the facade of a seven-story building on Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse, not far from the Quiddestrasse underground station. Individual interview sequences are thrown at various points on the high-rise wall using a projector, where the faces of Richard, Helmut, Erika and the others can be seen as tall as a meter. A good 20 people have gathered here for the art project. In addition, a number of people stop – many with shopping bags or a coffee mug in hand – and look up, captivated by the film about their district.
“Many who do not live here talk disparagingly about Neuperlach.” Says Eckhard, who was one of the first 250 residents in 1968. “The Neuperlacher differs from a Schwabinger in that the Schwabinger doesn’t even know what Neuperlach is.” Says Peter from the Kulturbunt association.
“Mapping Neuperlach” is the name of the project by Karnik Gregorian and Bülent Kullukcu in cooperation with the Kulturbunt association. The idea behind it: The walls of houses in the district should serve as “topographical canvases” on which people who live and work here talk about Neuperlach. The aim of the campaign is to make a part of urban life in Munich visible that, according to the two artists, is “very underrepresented in public perception”. Many have a vague idea of Neuperlach, which is shaped by the cliché of the problem district, says Gregorian: “But I’m sure that ninety percent of Munich’s residents have never been here. Everyone thinks they know something, but nobody really knows what Thing is. “
Gregorian and Kullukcu interviewed around 30 people for their mapping project – from schoolgirls to pensioners, from pastors to graffiti artists. They have cut their statements into a 40-minute film that is now being shown at various locations in Neuperlach. The highlight: the arrangement of the interview sequences is always tailored to the respective facade – be it a skyscraper or the St. James Church.
If Bülent Kullukcu (left) and Karnik Gregorian have their way, mapping in Neuperlach is only the prelude to a series of video projects from different parts of the city.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
“I experience a generously built part of the city. I experience a lot of simple people, of course also many in precarious situations.” Says Bodo, the pastor in Neuperlach. “It’s so nicely mixed. There are people from all walks of life and from a multitude of peoples on earth. And you can tell that they can get along.” Says Maximilian, who has lived here for 30 years.
In the next few weeks there will be three more mappings in Neuperlach. In addition, the artists want to show their film in the city center – “ideally on the facade of the town hall,” says Kullukcu and grins. If it is up to him and his partner, “Mapping Neuperlach” is only the prelude to a series of video projects from different parts of the city. “Next year we want to take on the Hasenbergl,” says Gregorian. “That is basically the counterpart to Neuperlach in the north.”
What did the two artists themselves learn about Neuperlach during the course of the project? “I noticed that the neighborhood is a lot greener than I thought.” Says Karnik Gregorian, the documentary filmmaker and journalist. “I was surprised that a lot of people from the city center didn’t even plan that this Neuperlach district existed at all.” Says Bülent Kullukcu, the director and musician.
There will be further demonstrations of “Mapping Neuperlach” on November 5th at Theodor-Heuss-Platz, on November 12th with a tour through the district and on November 19th at the Sankt-Jakobus-Kirche. The meeting point is at 6 p.m. in front of the Kulturhaus Neuperlach at Albert-Schweitzer-Straße 62.