Most people have probably heard of the legendary KitKat Club in Berlin – a place where kink, art, and body culture meet, standing as a symbol of radical freedom. That’s exactly how photographer and filmmaker Sahin Dellemann describes it.
And it’s there, on August 9, that Dellemann will present his first photo book here&now. With an aesthetic blending glamour, grit, and rebellion, the work celebrates individuality, freedom, and the courage to live differently – themes that resonate deeply with the Deviance community. And that’s exactly why you can win 2×2 spots on the guest list for the vernissage. But more on that later.
Dellemann’s lens focuses on society, subcultures, and queer ways of life, making here&now more than just a photo book – it’s a visual manifesto for diversity and self-determination. What self-determination means to him, who feels provoked by his work (and who doesn’t), and what all this has to do with you – you’ll find out in this interview.
here&now is about bodies, power, and visibility – all topics that also play a central role in BDSM. Where do you see intersections between art and kink?
here&now is a staged, multilayered portrait of a generation in a state of emergency – with desire, glam, and radical living at its core. It tells the story of a group of friends who, in a rapidly changing world, decide to live life intensely and without compromise, in the here and now. It’s about community, power, and the strength it takes to create your own life in the face of social constraints. The themes of body, power, and visibility intersect with questions often explored in BDSM – like how desire becomes visible, who holds control, or what intimacy can mean. It’s a love letter to freedom, diversity, and the courage to live differently – right here, right now.
Many of your past works are highly physical or even explicit, like Die Pornomacher. Were there any pieces you hesitated to show? How do you handle taboos or censorship?
Yes, there were moments of hesitation – not out of shame, but because I wasn’t sure the work would ever be shown. Die Pornomacher is not explicit, but a long-term documentary that’s part of a larger film project. Over nearly ten years, I documented a scene that’s usually portrayed in moralizing or distorted ways. I was honestly surprised by how deeply prejudice and censorship still – or maybe once again – shape what’s considered acceptable. It raises a real question: Can you create truly free work and still publish or sell it? I keep finding it striking how biased and, in many ways, uninformed our society remains in 2025.
What does self-determination mean to you?
For me, self-determination means not having to explain or justify stories or your desire. It’s about claiming space – even when it isn’t given to you. As a photographer and filmmaker, it means taking your own perspective seriously, even when it doesn’t align with the mainstream. I believe self-determination often shows up in small gestures: in what we say, how we present ourselves, who we stand with. And ultimately, in the decision to remain visible – despite resistance.
What role does community play for you, both within here&now and beyond? Are there connections to queer or sex-positive scenes?
here&now wouldn’t exist without the friendships, alliances, and shared experiences. Many of the people in the book move through queer or sex-positive spaces where alternative forms of intimacy, embodiment, and belonging are celebrated. Choosing KitKat as the location for the vernissage was very intentional. It’s not just a club – it’s a community space, a place where bodies, visibility, and freedom are part of the everyday. That’s exactly where we wanted this work to be seen. I’m drawn to that tension between vulnerability and strength, between everyday life and performance. Community means truly seeing each other – beyond market logic, labels, or expectations.
How does your audience respond to such works? Do you notice a difference between openly queer/kinky reception and a more “mainstream” gaze?
The reactions are extremely varied – and that’s exactly what makes it interesting. People from queer or sex-positive contexts usually engage with the work intuitively. In more mainstream settings, the first thing people often notice is the surface – the body, the nudity – and that quickly gets labeled as provocative. But that’s okay. I think strong work should create friction. And if it causes discomfort, it might also open up new questions: Why does this bother me? What am I actually seeing – and what am I projecting?
What do you wish for visitors who are encountering these themes for the first time?
I welcome curiosity – and maybe a willingness to be moved. here&now isn’t about explaining – it’s a fictional story that unfolds in the here and now. Some images might be challenging, others inviting. It’s not about labeling or judging, but about pausing for a moment – and noticing what it stirs in you. If you walk away not with a clear message, but with a feeling – maybe that’s enough.
And last but not least: What can the Community expect at the vernissage on August 9?
The vernissage presents here&now as a multimedia show – an exhibition in motion, where photography, bodies, and sound merge into one immersive experience. Staged at Berlin’s iconic KitKat Club – a place known for radical freedom.
And if you want to be there on August 9, you’ve got the chance to win 2×2 exclusive spots on the guest list through us. All you need to do is send an email with the subject line here&now and a short note on why you want to attend to [email protected] by Sunday, July 20, 2025. Winners will be notified the very next day.
