Portraits

Zeina Nassar, 21, is the reigning German featherweight boxing champion. Born and raised in Berlin by Lebanese parents, the young athlete is not only a fighter in the ring, but also a fighter for equality of opportunity: as a Muslim woman she is determinedly punching her way through prejudices in a male dominated field: "I always feel like I have to prove myself twice as much. Firstly because I’m a woman and then of course, I wear a hijab.” Zeina and her first boxing coach fought to change the rules about wearing the hijab in German boxing competitions. She has opened doors for other young girls who face similar struggles. “I don’t just fight for myself, I fight for all women”. Zeina’s next mission is to change international boxing rules. In 2019, Zeina was denied to participate in the U-22 European Boxing Championships, despite being the best German fighter in her weight class. The reason was the violation of the rules and standards: long clothing and a headscarf.
Zeina won’t give up to fight: her goal is to participate in the Olympics 2020. Berlin, Germany, 23 November, 2018.

Meenakshi Raghavan 'Gurukkhal, 76, practices a 'Kalaripayattu' sword choreography at the 'Kadathanad Kalari Sangham' school and temple. Here, she teaches around 150 students of all ages and genders fighting techniques and weaponry. Vatakara, Kerala, INDIA - September 23, 2017.

Helen Wairimu, 106, is the oldest participant of the ‘Shosho Jikinge’ (Engl.: ‘Grandmother defend yourself’) group in the Korogocho township. A rape survivor, Helen has been training self-defense techniques with around 20 other women, aged between 55-106 years, for six years. In 2016, a heavy-set, young man came to Helen’s hut and raped her. Helen still participates in the class every week, eager to encourage the other women to train harder through her role as a survivor. Nairobi, KENYA, February 28, 2017.

Dounya Z., 27, portrayed in Dubai, UAE, on 27 December, 2014.

Sarah S., 18, says the most traumatic experience of her life was when her father cut off her long hair during an argument. Shortly afterwards, her mother left her abusive husband. For years the family lived in fear. Berlin, GERMANY, August 19, 2016.

Moran Sanderovich, 37, has been living in Berlin since 2011. Born in a city on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, Israel, she has been working as a professional artist since eleven years. “My art gives me the possibility to observe and research private and collective topics in a different way such as monstrous, scary, revolting. I am willing to challenge myself as well as the viewers of my works to re-think what they see and to check their own gaze and patterns for perceiving the so called ‘other’”. Berlin, GERMANY, September 13, 2018.
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Photographed for my 5 week photo-column 'Kunststuecke' at taz newspaper, Sept-Oct. 2018

Jonathan Niclaus, 26, works as Designer und Art Director in Berlin. For Niclaus, his graphic works are travels away from the digital world. His drawings, graphics, and paintings explore the aesthetics of form and color in a nostalgic way. He is especially interested in the female body. Through graphic deconstruction and alienation he stages it in an abstract, decorative way.
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Photographed for my 5 week photo-column 'Kunststuecke' at taz newspaper, Sept-Oct. 2018

Max Dickhaus (R), 28, Light Designer, and Alan Paul Peters (L) , 32, Art Director, create colorful light installations from profane objects like neon tubes. Their latest artwork is exhibited at Anomalie Art Gallery in Berlin until late November.
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Photographed for my 5 week photo-column 'Kunststuecke' at taz newspaper, Sept-Oct. 2018

Rainer Kohlberger, 36, creates algorithmically composed art works. His imagery- and sound worlds concentrate inherently on #noise. He is fascinated by the idea of infinity, which he portrays as blurry and abstract. His movies, installations and live performances can be seen in cinemas, clubs, galleries, and urban streets.
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Photographed for my 5 week photo-column 'Kunststuecke' at taz newspaper, Sept-Oct. 2018

Dia Monawar, 23, works as a waiter in the Restaurant 'Kreuzberger Himmel' in Berlin. Mr. Monawar is from Damaskus, Syria, and lives in Germany since two years. Berlin, GERMANY, July 30, 2018.
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Photographed on assignment for ZEIT Online

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'There is a sense that the country is losing its bearings,' says Marianne Spring-Räumschüssel, leader of the AfD group in the Cottbus local council, pictured inside Cottbus' town house. Cottbus, GERMANY, January 31, 2018.
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Photographed on assignment for The Financial Times, Jan. 2018.

Veronica, 42, is a single mother seeking work.
Berlin, GERMANY, August 29, 2018.
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Photographed on assignment for ZEIT Online

Oliver O. Rednitz spreads love messages in his home town Berlin, as well as around the world. For his poster series 'Heldenreise', Rednitz has been studying the five world religions. He describes the way to self-love and charity as the power of love overcoming the love of power. In times of political and social unrest and fear of the 'other', Rednitz wants to raise awareness of love, compassion, and oneness.
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Photographed for my 5 week photo-column 'Kunststuecke' at taz newspaper, Sept-Oct. 2018

Michael Pesi, a Maasai warrior poses for a portrait during the UNEP development conference at UN headquaters in Nairobi. Nairobi, KENYA, October 31, 2014.

Elizabeth Kamau, 60, inside her hut in the Korogocho township with one of her ten grandchildren and the child of her adopted daughter. "I like being a good role model to children by showing them that a woman can be strong and empowered", she said. Elizabeth has been training with the 'Shosho Jikinge' (Engl.: 'Grandmother defend yourself') group since five years and has successfully applied self-defense techniques to fight off potential sexual attackers.

Beatrice Njeri Murange, 71, at her hut in the Korogocho township. Beatrice has successfully applied various skills she learned since joining the group five years ago. || She joined because many grandmothers in her neighbourhood were raped and murdered. Nowadays, she feels confident and comfortable when walking through the streets.
Nairobi, KENYA, February 28, 2017.

Syrian refugee Amina with four of her five children in their tent. || She is the center of their lives as their father or other male figures are absent. Many female refugees are single parents, as their husbands have gone missing or been killed in the Syrian war. Bekaa Valley, LEBANON, September 5, 2014.

Dubai, UAE, March 9, 2014.

NADJA WOHLLEBEN | Documentary Photographer & Photojournalist

Nadja Wohlleben is an independent German photojournalist and documentary photographer based in Berlin. A careful play of documentation and artistry, Nadja’s work focuses on concepts of femininity, power and identity.