Whoever may have attributed this entry in the summit book of the Brocken to the poet Heinrich Heine demonstrated cynical foresight. Today, the Harz is considered structurally weak, its inhabitants cranky and inaccessible, like the region's dense coniferous forests. But the forest is changing. As a result of drought summers, the bark beetle is transforming the weakened spruce stands into vast apocalyptic landscapes. Many Harzers fear for their livelihood, some even for their local identity. Only one thing seems certain here: the forest will grow again. It will be a different one.

„What belongs together should grow together“ Politicians stated after Germany's reunification. Now vast holes are gaping in the greenery, tearing open old scars and opening up new wounds. Rotting border towers and empty sanatoriums bear witness to the region's historical heritage. At the regulars' tables in the village pubs, the elderly argue about the many small and large problems: about the national park, Greta Thunberg and refugees, about East Germans or West Germans. Meanwhile, the only decision left for the youth is to stay or go.

"Broken Harz?" Is an ongoing photo book project (since 2020) that provides insights into a microcosm in the middle of Germany that is suffering tangibly and visibly from the effects of climate change and the challenges of recent years. The book will consist of narrative images (Project A) and serial portraits (Project B).