VISUAL ARTIST HELIN BEREKET
Visuals courtesy of © Helin Bereket
The Turkish-born photographer and content creator resides in Berlin since 2008. Originally a student of architecture in Istanbul, she completed a Master’s degree in Art at the Berlin Weißensee School of Art, which opened up new dimensions in the different subjects. In 2013, Helin received her first camera as a gift and has since been taking photos and sharing her everyday life and travels around the world. She’s collaborated with brands such as Samsung, Nikon, Audi and Swatch.
Your greatest inspirations or influences?
There are quite a few things that inspire me. Travel, architecture, landscapes, art, design, music, but—most of all—my own life. Even as a child, I loved to observe everything around me—and I still do. Every place, every moment I experience, all experiences trigger thoughts that I then express in my work.
Tell us a bit about your creative process?
My works are a mixture of things that are on my bucket list, things that I create and things that I stumble upon. The process depends on why I photograph. If it’s a paid collaboration, I wait and research until I get this one idea. Sometimes it takes just one day, sometimes weeks. Once I have the idea, I get materials, shoot and edit. Sometimes while shooting, a completely new idea comes to my mind, then I change the whole concept. So it's a little bit of experimenting every time.
When I travel, I have a bucket list, but I mostly don’t plan what exactly I will shoot. I just go to the location, spend time there, look for perspectives and at some point I take my camera out and shoot. I am definitely looking forward to traveling more often over the next few years.
I also take a lot of spontaneous photos. If I see something interesting, I simply stop and shoot it.
How has this year changed your creativity or how you see the world changing moving forward?
In recent years, I've been travelling a lot and each place has produced many unique travel photos—both architectural and scenic. In 2020, that changed a lot. Since I couldn't travel as much and was at home a lot, I focused on other styles, like self-portraits or still life photos. I even photographed my food, which was unimaginable for me a few years ago. I don't set any limits for myself. My photography is my way of expression and adapts to my life. And I find inspiration everywhere.
Who do you consider to be an icon of our time?
No-one. I really believe that we don’t need icons. Every person is unique and the key is getting rid of your insecurities and discovering the power in yourself. The rest comes by itself.
Do you think the art world needs to change, and if so how do you feel it can improve?
I think art should be accessible to everyone and that's what I love about social media. Nowadays it’s very easy to showcase your work and reach out to other people.
Of course it has some downsides, but I guess we are on the right track.
And I think when people believe that art is no longer simply produced for some collectors or rich people, they will understand and appreciate it better.
What does wellbeing mean to you?
Being satisfied with yourself and you life however you live it I would say.
