CRITICISM WITH A DELICATE TONGUE… WITH FALKO D

Working in the arts can make you part of a very supportive world. Of course, you can’t escape the business side of things, 'cos we all have to eat, but it still feels a bit less cut-throat than other fields and I like to think that we can trust each other.

That being said, there are some rules for how to behave in the arts, particularly how to treat other artists. Networking is very important, so the rule is that you should support each other, give shout-outs, go to others’ events, and buy their stuff. It’s also good to give constructive criticism when it’s helpful, but with a very delicate tongue… we artists tend to be a sensitive bunch.

So I try to do my fair share of supporting my community, even when I’m not strictly a fan. And I’m sure there are loads who promote me and say lovely things about me when actually they think my work is shit. But sometimes in the process of blindly supporting anyone and everyone in your field, you find an artist who you truly adore. Fedya Ili is one of them.

Fedya shot this series of pics with Falko D. in Berlin, so I thought it would be perfect to include in the Issue (02) of Elska Magazine, which is dedicated to Berlin. While the flowerscape could be anywhere, there’s a real 'Berlinesque' feel to it - the breezy, shamefree freedom you sense from this display of outdoor nudity. While of course it's not exactly 'normal' to find a naked guy standing in a shopping trolley in a park, there are weirder things that happen in Berlin. And all the weirdness means that people don't pay any mind when you do something a bit unusual. And that's one of the things I love about Berlin.

Elska Boy: Falko D

Photographer: Fedya Ili

Location: Berlin, Germany

Elska Magazine: Issue (02) Berlin

#BerlinGermany