2015 Nov 11
by Akansha Naraindas
“From cave walls, to gallery walls, to Internet walls, we’re still figuring out who we’ve been, who we are and who we can be”
Today’s social media tools have made it easier than ever for artists to market themselves, gain exposure, and build an audience — but simultaneously, it has made it harder than ever to stand out in an ever-flowing current of self-published content by anyone with an Internet connection. How do you stand out as an artist in a time when everyone is one?
Berlin-Artparasites is a project that emerged in late 2011 as an online magazine covering Berlin’s art scene. Founded by media consultant Marcus Johst, it originally sought to become a disruptive voice (nobody likes a parasite) by approaching and writing about art from fun, non-academic, and unlikely perspectives. Its popularity grew on Facebook, its page having more than 2 million likes.
When questioned about the genre and stylicism about the works, he simply states “I like to think that what I’m sharing with my audience is not necessarily the artwork that they see or the words that they read, but something greater than the fusion of those parts; collages of images and texts that, in best-case scenarios, go beyond being mere Facebook posts.”
Some popular works
“After a while you learn the subtle difference Between holding a hand and chaining a soul, And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning And company doesn’t mean security. And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts And presents aren’t promises… After a while you learn… That even sunshine burns if you get too much. So you plant your garden and decorate your own soul, Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. And you learn that you really can endure… That you really are strong And you really do have worth… And you learn and learn… With every good-bye you learn.” — Veronica A. Shoffstall
“I’ve been making a list of the things they don’t teach you at school. They don’t teach you how to love somebody. They don’t teach you how to be famous. They don’t teach you how to be rich or how to be poor. They don’t teach you how to walk away from someone you don’t love any longer. They don’t teach you how to know what’s going on in someone else’s mind. They don’t teach you what to say to someone who’s dying. They don’t teach you anything worth knowing.” ― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman
“I am slowly learning that some people are not good for me, no matter how much I love them. I deserve someone who is gentle and kind, because my soul is getting tired. Realizing that I deserve something good is one of the first steps.” —Michelle K., Why I Need To Say Goodbye To You
“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.” ― Eric Roth
Berlin-Artparasites initially started to showcase the work of artists in Berlin, but combining art with quotes that make you look at them both in a completely new way was just pure genius.
