Leaving Berghain: Anna-Lena Krause Captures Clubbers in the Cold Light of Day

Masha, 2015 from ‘The Aftermaths’ by Anna-Lena Krause
Masha, 2015 from ‘The Aftermaths’ by Anna-Lena Krause | © Anna-Lena Krause
Luke Troynar

Since its inception in 2004, Berghain has become such an institution that for many the club’s name is synonymous with Berlin nightlife. Photographer Anna-Lena Krause has photographed ravers leaving the notorious temple of techno in The Aftermaths – a series of intimate portraits.

A portmanteau of the two districts that intersect where the former power plant is located – Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain – the name Berghain also literally translates to “mountain grove” in German, an apt image considering the club’s huge international clout, lofty ceilings and monumentally long entry queues.

But it wasn’t always like this. Initially founded to continue the legacy of Ostgut, an uber-exclusive men’s fetish club, Berghain began to garner relentless international press attention after an American journalist famously dubbed it “the current world capital of techno” in 2007, a reputation that’s only grown stronger since. Over the past decade or so, the club has become equally renowned for its capriciously selective door policy and decadent ‘anything goes’ attitude once inside its towering concrete walls.

Yet EDM exclusivity and unbridled hedonism aside, there’s something else special about the Berghain experience that’s harder to put into words – something emblematic of Berlin nightlife that Berlin-born photographer Anna-Lena Krause has managed to capture perfectly with The Aftermaths.

For Krause, the pictures express not only her friends’ extreme fatigue in these moments, but also a special stripped-down quality. “I’ve always found such beauty and purity in this moment after a long sleepless night,” says the 25-year-old Berliner. “We’re living in a time in which we all have ideas about ourselves that are shaped strongly by the societies in which we participate, and in this moment of exhaustion I find something more true and honest.”

While each photo highlights the unique character of the featured individual, the portraits also evoke the freedom that Berlin’s nightlife has somehow retained over the years, despite the endless hype and growing commercialisation: the freedom to wear what you want, be who you want, and express yourself however you please. As Krause puts it, the best part about going out in Berlin is that it feels like entering “a parallel world in which the rules are still unwritten”.

Emeli, 2016 from ‘The Aftermaths’ by Anna-Lena Krause
Thiago, 2017 from ‘The Aftermaths’ by Anna-Lena Krause
Berenice, 2017 from ‘The Aftermaths’ by Anna-Lena Krause
Ben, 2016 from ‘The Aftermaths’ by Anna-Lena Krause
Olive, 2016 from ‘The Aftermaths’ by Anna-Lena Krause
David, 2015 from ‘The Aftermaths’ by Anna-Lena Krause
Sam, 2018 from ‘The Aftermaths’ by Anna-Lena Krause
Katrina, 2016 from ‘The Aftermaths’ by Anna-Lena Krause
Yannica, 2017 from ‘The Aftermaths’ by Anna-Lena Krause
Mustapha, 2017 from ‘The Aftermaths’ by Anna-Lena Krause
Konstantin, 2017 from ‘The Aftermaths’ by Anna-Lena Krause
Elli, 2015 from ‘The Aftermaths’ by Anna-Lena Krause
Richie, 2017 from ‘The Aftermaths’ by Anna-Lena Krause
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Winter Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

X
Edit article