Berlin Alexanderplatz

A video installation by visual artist Marievic

Filmed in Berlin, 2017

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Berlin Alexanderplatz is an attempt to adapt Alfred Döblin’s masterpiece novel of the same name to new technologies. This project takes the story of Franz Biberkopf and challenges an algorithm with it. The goal is to question notions of storytelling in the age of modern technologies. The algorithm’s understanding of the narrative was then represented visually.

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In order to recreate protagonist Franz Biberkopf’s journey as faithfully as possible, MarieVic translated the novel into an inventory of places the character visits, things described in his surroundings as well as indications of his moods.

The result is an endless stream of pictures that correspond to Franz’s surroundings and moods as he drifts through Berlin.

This Berlin Alexanderplatz is a collection of tableaux, scenes that are meant to be juxtaposed and repeated as a loop to convey the sense of eternal return inherent to the story.