Rico
Julian Mährlein & Luma von Perfall are a photography duo, currently based in Berlin. Their new story Rico is composed of images, a short video, and a print that focuses on their mutual friend Rico, who came to visit the duo. The photoshoot merges the memories and the emotional layer of the years of friendship and the learning anew about this person, they haven’t been in touch with for some time.
The shooting was focused on the process of exploring the relationship, on the person gradually opening up and becoming freer based on remembering and reacquaintance. The space of the apartment and the connection with the styling decisions allowed for this dynamic to emerge, as the duo remembers Rico’s comment about one of the outfits eventually leading to launching the shoot, "In this one, I feel like dancing."
We speak with Julian and Luma to discover some of the moments behind the scenes, the work on set, and the relationship with the main character of the story, Rico. They explain that the determination was to keep the set friendly and minimalistic, “The lighting, the cameras — all was very simple, organic and fell into place when we slowly began photographing.” The result is liberation on emotional and personal levels, the invitation of the viewer to explore and become a part of the narrative, questioning the background of the character and the pieces of the story left untold.
Photography & Video by Julian Mährlein and Luma von Perfall Managed by DILLER Agency Styling Kamilla Richter Talent Rico
‘Rico happened as a reminder that bodies are able to open and close, that intimacy can happen in very unfamiliar settings, that the frames in which these encounters unfold can be careless as in this afternoon.’
The Story
Rico happened as a reminder that bodies are able to open and close, that intimacy can happen in very unfamiliar settings, that the frames in which these encounters unfold can be careless as in this afternoon. The urge to hold on to these memories turned into this series, inviting others to step into the situation and feel comfortable. Rico suddenly stepped back into our lives. There was a period of time in which we had heard very little from each other.
‘We are working very intuitively using different cameras, analog and digital, still and moving images, distributed through the rooms, using them more in a rotational system than sticking to a steady technical plan.’
The relationship stood still but hadn't vanished. Her coming back then felt very natural, and it all seemed to fall into place. We could observe (from a very safe perspective) that our closeness was being built up again in times of distancing. It was this process of opening up that we wanted to document. At a similar pace, she came to visit us in Berlin, and her presence pulled us out of our notion of ongoing life. We fell in an afternoon together and decided to walk through the layers of our friendship.
‘We are working very intuitively using different cameras, analog and digital, still and moving images, distributed through the rooms, using them more in a rotational system than sticking to a steady technical plan.’
The Shooting Dynamic
The shooting dynamic as a duo involves a lot of communication to feel good. It also allows for chance and situations that rely on small misunderstandings, which we embrace. Rico was deeply involved in this dynamic from the beginning, which made it very easy to reach a safe and intimate atmosphere. We are working very intuitively using different cameras, analog and digital, still and moving images, distributed through the rooms, using them more in a rotational system than sticking to a steady technical plan. We spread the styling out on the carpet and stood around the clothes with our hands on the hips, trying to decide what feels best. "In this one, I feel like dancing," Rico said. And then we started.
Aesthetics
Our initial thoughts were to make this as simple and personal as possible — an intimate, visual exploration of a friendship, rather than a planned out photoshoot with a whole team on set. We therefore stripped everything down to the bare minimum which in turn informed our aesthetic. There were only us three in the flat feeling everything out. The lighting, the cameras — all was very simple, organic and fell into place when we slowly began photographing.
