When photographing nightlife, one has to face multiple challenges. From using flash to creating a balance where the photographer does not overstep their boundaries to capturing the narrative and ensuring the pictures are authentic, there is so much that can go wrong. However, in the past 16 years, photographer Benita Suchodrev has been able to overcome all her struggles. She began to photograph Berlin’s club culture, and if you wish to see the proof, then head over to Le bal infernal, an upcoming photography exhibition by Suchodrev, which proves she is a master of her craft.
The lead image and all other images are by Benita Suchodrev, courtesy of Fotografiska Berlin. All are used with permission.
Berlin’s nightlife is part of a constantly growing club culture where labels and limitations fade. In the past 30 years, the space has become a haven for multiple individuals who have adopted a new identity, reflecting the city’s metamorphosis.
When Suchodrev, who was born in the former USSR and immigrated to America, moved to Berlin in 2008, she was instantly fascinated by the vibrance of the nightlife. Various groups were present, from socialites to men in suits; everyone was here, and any social boundary seemed to have disappeared. Seeing such a change, the photographer began to chronicle various scenes.
“My life in Berlin is inseparable from this body of work. I discovered the city in the process of taking these photographs,” says Suchodrev.
The photography exhibition Le bal Infernal depicts the unique energy of club culture. But that is not all. Suchodrev uses both portrait and documentary photography to present the moments and individuals who became the very identity of Berlin’s past and future.
There’s a certain madness and magic to it all: the neurotic flicker of neon lights, the dissolution of the self in a trance to a sinister beat or acting out bliss with a stranger on a shabby couch in a smoke-filled room. Beneath the party facade, these moments speak to a deeper part of the human condition: the endless longing to feel physically and spiritually free.
Throughout the photography exhibition, one will notice how the pictures appear like a fevered dream. The images have a high contrast, where the punchy colors and impressive composition can remind one of Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita from 1960. Through the use of flash, grain, and slow shutter in some instances, Suchodrev evokes feelings of liberation, connection, and solitude. The smell of scandal and wickedness also helps to create a spectacle, much like the scenes from Dante’s Divine Comedy. The individuals may appear from reality, but they, in some ways, represent what makes us human.
“To really enjoy a party, I need my camera. I get a rush when I photograph people being authentic and having a good time,” she explains.
Le bal infernal is a photography exhibition that will include images from Suchodrev’s archives, as well as those that have been shot in recent times and remain unseen. The images have mysterious narratives embedded in them, but the viewer is asked to spend time with them to unravel the truth. Instead of rushing through the artwork, you must savor every photograph like your favorite meal at a restaurant. Similar to how ingredients speak to you, the elements will open up to reveal a world away from the daylight but certainly dancing to its own tune.
You can watch Benita Suchodrev’s long-term study, Le bal infernal, at Fotografiska Berlin. The photography exhibition starts from October 11, and will end on January 26, 2025. For more information, visit Fotografiska Berlin’s website.