Valentin Goppel: "Between the years".

Flatmates drink at a secret party in an attic room with candles and plastic cups – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown

Youth on Lockdown. The student Valentin Goppel deals with the effects of the pandemic on his generation in the project “Between the Years”.

03.11.2022 Text: Valentin Goppel Photos: Valentin Goppel

When the news first talked about the lockdown, I was visiting my parents. Full of excitement about the extended vacation, I wrote a note on the kitchen table, “Universities are closed, maybe I’ll stay a few more days.” Full of energy, I didn’t finish the sentence, the note ended with the words “maybe I wi-“. The joy did not last long. Corona pulled the rug out from under me. It took me some time to realize that I was not alone.

On New Year’s Eve, I photographed the first scene of my project about young people in times of Corona: after a long conversation with his parents, a friend met two classmates at the turn of the year for the first time in many months. Together they ignited the silver swirls and firecrackers from last year and then went into quarantine. The food had my friend put in front of the door. From then on, I photographed such scenes again and again. I took photos of acquaintances and acquaintances of acquaintances. Mostly it was the people I had missed for months. Together we found ways to capture our state of limbo. Some scenes were observed from a distance, others arose from a sudden impulse or shared memory.

Not yet knowing where to hold on when everything is shaky may be part of the state between being a kid and being an adult anyway. Corona is another catalyst of disorientation. Suddenly we were fighting the demons we had held back by comforting distractions. Like many others, I still haven’t settled in at the university. My state of limbo drags on.

The message to my parents mentioned at the beginning is now stuck in a picture frame as a document of time. It is in a moving box in my new shared room. The room is not really furnished yet. Sometimes it still feels like I’m just camping here.

A young man and an older woman sit opposite each other at a kitchen table – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — Mother and son after breakfast.

A person in dark clothing kneels alone in a wide snowy landscape – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — The first snow of the year.

Young adults stand with drinks around a table with red cups at a house party – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — House party as covid-19 incidences fall.

Two young people lie in bed with a laptop in the glow of fairy lights – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — A couple in bed.

Teenagers in suits and face masks sit spaced apart in a church pew – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — The final minutes of a confirmation.

Teenagers sit on a graffiti-covered wall in a park at night – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — Drinking together outdoors.

Flatmates drink at a secret party in an attic room – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — Roommates at a secret party.

Two teenagers kiss at night against a house wall beside lit windows – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — Take-away pizza after the first rave since the lockdown.

Masked pupils crowd around a phone in a classroom – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — Lunch break at school, Netflix on the phone.

Two teenagers sit at dusk in front of a graffiti wall at the edge of a meadow – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — On the way home after a birthday party.

Two young people sit at a kitchen table at night, their shadows cast large on the wall – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — My roommate and her boyfriend drinking in the shared kitchen.

A young man in a vest receives a COVID vaccination in a doctor’s surgery – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — Corona vaccination.

A densely packed crowd of young people in fog and smoke at a party – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — The first rave after the lockdown, model project.

A young woman in a red jacket stands knee-deep in the sea at sunset – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — A friend on the beach on vacation in France.

Teenagers sit around a campfire at night – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — Campfire at the Ihme.

A person lies alone on a large meadow in a park in the evening light – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — A couple on the Ihme.

Young people sit and lie tiredly in a living room of an old building – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — The last moments of a house party.

Two teenagers sit in a car with its headlights on under a street lamp at night – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — Couple in the car.

A young man lies on a large sofa in front of a glass wall overlooking greenery – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — Friends in their parent’s living room.

Teenagers sit on the pavement at night in front of a poster-covered shop and smoke – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — Street scene on the Limmerstraße.

Three pupils sit far apart at desks in a bright classroom – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — Corona test before the start of classes.

Teenagers in swimwear stand on a bridge over a river in the evening – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — My roommate and two friends after jumping into the water.

A young man sits in his car at night wrapped in a blanket, looking at his phone – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — Take-Away in McDonalds parking lot.

Young people camp with a tent and a car on a lakeshore in front of misty mountains – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — At the campsite, summer vacation in France.

A person sits at night in the light of a window in a dark room – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — A friend in her shared apartment room before smoking out the window.

A young woman sits with her grandparents at a coffee table in the living room – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — A friend visiting her grandparents.

Teenagers sit on an empty road under a street lamp at night – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — On the sidelines of a birthday party, the first days of summer.

Two teenagers sit in an empty, dimly lit pub with a red mural – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — A friend and his family in their restaurant closed in lockdown.

A single lit window in an apartment building next to a vacant lot at night – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — Construction site on the Engelbosteler Damm.

A young man sits reading in bed in warm light – Valentin Goppel’s photo series ‘Zwischen den Jahren’ about young people in the coronavirus lockdown — Self portrait with covid infection.

Valentin Goppel was awarded the Leica Oskar Barnack Newcomer Award and the VGH Photo Prize in 2022 for his photo series “Between the Years”.

VALENTINEOPPEL.COM

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