Marzili Portraits

Beach balls, äuä dry bags, sunglasses, pool noodles, bikinis, swim trunks, towels, tattoos, and tangas. And skin, lots of it, young and old, telling the story of a lifetime coming to an end or one just begun. What began as a documentary endeavor swiftly took on a performative dimension. The studio lights and a blue wall transformed a spot in the public swimming pool into a stage; the camera took the role of the audience, the photographer assumed the role of the director, and the individuals being photographed became the actors of their own story. Marzili Portraits is a celebration of the yearly ritual of bathing in the Aare, a time of renewal and recharging before the upcoming winter. This tradition brings together individuals and groups from very diverse backgrounds in the city of Bern.