In the years 1985 - 1986 I began Deutsche Volksfeste for my own interest and
continued it from 1989 - 1991 as a job for STERN Magazine. I photographed
at festivals and traditional celebrations in various regions of West Germany. In
Deutsche Volksfeste, in reminiscence of my own childhood, I looked at children
in situations in which I could become emotionally involved. My primary interest
was to show how children are utilized by their parents as signifiers of social status.
Their behaviour towards adults was controlled by their parents. The children were
tidily dressed for the festivity and the parents were proud of the appearance of
their children. I am aware of a conflict here between my work as a photographer,
and an individuals right to privacy. While I did my job for STERN magazine from
1989, I concentrated on showing how the individual presents himself to society.
This was based on the idea of holding a mirror up to society.