JOKO

Sequins and plush, geometric fabrics and floral patterns, martial swords stuck in the head and sweetly kitschy unicorns or oversized play dice crowning the head—at first glance, the 45 photographs in the publication Joko allow the viewer to enter a fascinating cosmos of masquerades whose sophisticated details alternately entertain, surprise or even frighten. One can see the countless hours of work that have gone into them—and in doing so, Berlin photographer Attila Hartwig not only directs the viewer's attention to the impressive overall appearance, but also repeatedly underscores the creative ingenuity underlying the various masquerades through close-ups. These are undoubtedly creative works of art, in the making of which the artist has left nothing to chance. The highly aesthetically staged portraits in the publication not only show a broad repertoire of tremendously multifaceted disguises, they also already hint at the fact that the masquerades are far more than just an outer shell. The eyes gaze penetratingly through the openings of the mask, as if they were trying to tell a story. It is the story of Joko Koma, to be read in an autobiographical text accompanied by a very personal foreword by Barbie Breakout. Growing up in the Franconian province, Joko Koma's life is marked early on by the turmoil that will accompany him throughout his life—with great authenticity and intensity, Joko Koma describes how he always moves along the fine line between reality and the dream world