Interview with photographer Maria Sturm 21/01/2025

Many people simply think of a garage as a practical place to park cars or tools. What have you learnt about the importance of these places through your work?

MS: Most people use their garages for exactly that: to park their cars and tools. But garages are much more than just functional spaces - they are places full of stories, potential and meanings. Through my work, I have learnt that garages often represent an interface between public and private space. They can be places of retreat, workshops, think tanks or social meeting places.

Is there a particular experience or encounter that you particularly remember while working on "Mitgliederversammlung"?

MS: I'm thinking of Andreas, one of the first people I photographed. He is the father of nine children, and at our first meeting I photographed him with his son Samuel. Later, I met him again with his wife Claudia and their daughter Sonja, who had just learnt to walk. It was touching to see little Sonja helping him with the screws - with a mixture of childlike curiosity and the joy of spending time with her parents. In the end, I had the opportunity to photograph Andreas with his whole family. These moments showed me how important garages are as family spaces that not only serve practical purposes, but are also places of togetherness and bonding.

What do you hope that the people of Chemnitz or visitors to the city will take away from these portraits? Are there certain perspectives that you want to highlight?

MS: I hope that the people of Chemnitz and visitors to the city will gain a deeper understanding of the people who characterise their city through the portraits. The photographs are intended to show the complexity and diversity of human expression: The garages remind me of teenage bedrooms, where people create a personal identity within a given space. The way these garages are designed and organised is a subtle expression of individuality and creativity in a seemingly everyday environment. They are also places of self-realisation.

Ultimately, I hope that visitors to the city will recognise how important it is for art and photography to enter everyday spaces in order to reach people who do not find themselves in classic art contexts. The portraits are intended to stimulate a sense of connection and dialogue - beyond stereotypes and norms.

Your photos can be seen in various contexts - whether in a fashion shop or a bookshop. What does it mean to you that visitors to the city centre can discover your art as they pass by?

MS: It is important to me that art is integrated into everyday life, as this makes it accessible and democratic for everyone. Museums and galleries are often exclusive places where not everyone feels comfortable or welcome. When visitors discover the photos in passing, it is an invitation to experience the stories of the people depicted in a less formal, perhaps even surprising way. It creates a dialogue that connects people on an emotional and thoughtful level. This kind of connection can broaden mutual understanding and encourage social exchange without the need for a formal invitation or a specific expectation.

The exhibition can be seen in 50 Chemnitz retail shops from 17 January to 26 April 2025. In the second half of the year, it will be on display at the Garage Campus on Zwickauer Straße. An interactive map invites you to explore.