Spaces in between: using the Zwischenraum to explore the archiving practices of young expats in Berlin

Abstract

This article draws on Warburg's Zwischenraum to explore the archiving practices of young expats living in short-term accommodations in Berlin. The image of the Zwischenraum is employed as a visual tool to juxtapose the gaps created by Berlin's characteristic missing houses with the blank spaces between pictures within photographic albums. Furthermore, the Zwischenraum is used as theoretical instrument to illustrate the importance of empty spaces within urban development and archiving practices. In this article, the relationship between homes and archives is considered through the non-traditional and precarious living conditions caused by Berlin's rapid gentrification. This study inquires whether living in temporary accommodations affects the management of personal photographs and, vice versa, to which extent archiving practices have impact on the perception of precarious environments. This research employed visual ethnography to examine the practices of eight young adults living in Berlin in the spring of 2019. The results gained from photo-elicitation and semi-structured interviews displayed a mutual yet not dramatic influence between the living conditions and the way personal photographs are managed. This research contributes to studies on domestic photography and uncovers some of the effects of gentrification. Ultimately, it presents the Zwischenraum as a valuable conceptual framework within visual studies.