Project Title: Photographic art project about the Unterbilk district in Düsseldorf, Germany Project launch: November 2025 Project status: active
About the Bilk district Bilk is one of the oldest settled areas of Düsseldorf and was first mentioned in the 8th century. What began as a small village south of the early town center grew into a rapidly developing urban area in the 19th century. Unterbilk emerged during this time as its own neighborhood, shaped by workers’ housing, the new railway connection, and its proximity to Düsseldorf’s harbor on the Rhine River. Geographically, Unterbilk is centrally located in the southwestern part of the city: it borders the neighborhoods of Friedrichstadt and Carlstadt to the north, the harbor district and the Rhine riverfront to the east, and today’s Bilk to the south and southwest. The area is densely built and still shows a mix of historic residential buildings, modern architecture, and the extensively redeveloped harbor/media district. This gives Underbilk a lively, urban character where old city structure and contemporary design appear directly side by side.
About the project The idea originated from the thought that the diversity of this neighborhood offers an exciting foundation for a photographic project. I went to school in Unterbilk, spent parts of my childhood and youth there, and therefore feel a special connection to the area. As in almost every city, the different neighborhoods here each have their own atmosphere and unique character, shaped by history, architecture, and above all, by the people. This is naturally true for Unterbilk as well. However, this project is not meant to be a traditional neighborhood portrait that collects beautiful images of historic buildings, modern architecture, grand streets, or popular cafés. There are already many of those. For good reason, as Unterbilk has a lot to offer. Instead, in this project, I want to develop photographic works that reflect my personal response to this neighborhood. I want to dig a little deeper: it’s about very personal perspectives and many things that typical neighborhood portraits don’t show.
Here you see a curated selection of 15 images. It does not offer comprehensive documentation but rather a focused, atmospheric approach to Unterbilk and my current position as a contemporary photographer.
Black and white photo of Düsseldorf’s skyline featuring the Rheinturm tower partially obscured by fog, modern buildings including the iconic Gehry-designed structures, and boats docked along the river on a cloudy day.
Black and white photo of the statue "Marlies" from the 10 Pillar Saints by artist Christoph Pöggeler, standing on a Litfaß column, looking up towards the Rheinturm tower in Düsseldorf under an overcast sky.
Black and white photo of a foggy river landscape featuring a modern suspension bridge spanning the water, a cargo boat moving along the river, and a paved riverside walkway with benches and planters on a cloudy day.
Black and white photo of a modern pedestrian bridge with triangular support beams, surrounded by leafless trees and fallen leaves on the ground under a cloudy sky.
Black and white photo showing a series of glass panels with diagonal light reflections creating a repeating V-shaped pattern above wide concrete steps under a clear sky.
Black and white photo of a row of modern apartment buildings featuring large glass windows and balconies, with white pillars supporting the upper floors and a wide open space in front.
Black and white photo looking through a dark alleyway opening onto a bright courtyard with potted plants, outdoor chairs, and a mix of old and modern buildings in the background.
Black and white photo showing the reflection of a person walking on a city street, visible through a shop window glass that also reflects surrounding buildings, cars, and festive lights, creating a layered and ghostly urban scene.
Black and white photo showing large glass jars with cloth covers on a wooden shelf, with the reflection of a person and surrounding buildings visible in the glass window.
Black and white photo of an old urban doorway with peeling paint on the walls, graffiti tags on the left side, and a dark wooden door with steps leading up to it.
Black and white photo of an old, abandoned gas station featuring tiled columns and walls covered with graffiti, peeling paint, and a worn entrance door. The site shows signs of neglect and urban decay, with scattered debris and faded signage.
Black and white photo of an industrial loading dock area featuring large metal containers, a grated vent, and scattered debris on the floor in a worn, dimly lit environment.
Silhouette of a person walking inside a modern glass pedestrian bridge with urban buildings in the background, captured in black and white.
Black and white photo of an urban underpass covered in graffiti, featuring a lone shopping cart against the wall and a concrete pillar. The graffiti includes large letters and a German phrase painted on the overhead beam.
A black and white photo of an 'Autotechnik' garage or workshop entrance with large glass doors and tiled walls. Various signs and posters are visible inside the right-hand section, under fluorescent lighting.
