Das Prinzip Apfelbaum

Eleven personalities, including writer Günter Grass, violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, theologian Margot Käßmann and politician Richard von Weizsäcker, talk about what they would like to pass on to future generations. Touching portraits and thoughts - a commitment to life.

"Das Prinzip Apfelbaum": eine Fotoausstellung von "Mein Erbe tut Gutes"

What remains of a life, what remains of me when I am gone? This question affects us all at some point - but talking about it is often still a taboo. Photographer Bettina Flitner portrays eleven well-known personalities who address this question with great openness: Egon Bahr, Günter Grass, Margot Käßmann, Dieter Mann, Ulf Merbold, Reinhold Messner, Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Friede Springer, Richard von Weizsäcker and Wim Wenders.

The exhibition “The Apple Tree Principle” in the Rotes Rathaus shows various prominent perspectives

The result is large-format photographic works, characteristic of Flitner, supplemented with personal quotes. The initiative “Mein Erbe tut Gutes. The apple tree principle” is now showing them for the last time in an exhibition. Visitors can also experience the people portrayed in sensitive short films as well as via audio guide in text excerpts from the conversations Flitner had with the personalities. Subtle, multi-layered, touching. Flitner knows how to win over her protagonists in an empathetic way. In this way, she succeeds in taking a new look at well-known personalities. Her pictures convey a very special mood full of nuances. They reveal transience, vulnerability, wisdom, wit and joie de vivre. Bettina Flitner was accompanied by cameraman Börres Weiffenbach.

The resulting short films, edited by Judith Keil and Antje Kruska, open up an additional facet. Those who get involved are drawn in, immersed in “thinking outside the box” and inevitably begin to do so themselves. “If I knew that the world would end tomorrow, I would plant an apple tree today” - this quote attributed to Martin Luther is the inspiration for the title of the exhibition. No wistful looking back, no sadness or gloom: “The Apple Tree Principle” is a commitment to life - and beyond.

Admission: free

Runtime: Wed, 11/09/2024 to Fri, 11/10/2024

Takes place here:

• Berliner Rathaus (Rotes Rathaus)