What happens when a photographer rings the doorbell of her neighbors during the corona crisis

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They live right next to us, we share a house together - but most of them probably don't have much to do with their own neighbors.

Isn't that a shame?

In November, the Essen photographer Katharina Kemme, 29, began to address people in her apartment block - to find out how they are doing.

Kemme lives with her roommate in the so-called Simson Block in the Holsterhausen district.

The block belongs to a partially preserved former workers' settlement belonging to the Alfred Krupp company.

Who are they who live here?

Photo: Katharina Kemme

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For example, Kemme met Robert at the age of 58.

He's lived on this block since he moved from home in 1985.

The pride of the mechanic: a red Mercedes.

Anyone who sees clichés confirmed now, »big cars, typically men«, says Katharina Kemme: »While I was addressing people, I lost prejudices.

Communication broke up. ”And so she found Robert modest, learned that he had saved a long time in order to fulfill his dream.

Photo: Katharina Kemme

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Katharina Kemme also met children.

Here: Paul taking a break from playing.

Together with his big brother Justus and his mother Aggi, he was still playing catch on the farm's playground.

Photo: Katharina Kemme

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Marita and Robert met at a street festival.

In 2003 she moved in with him in the block.

They have been married for 17 years today.

Marita's son lives directly above them in the same house.

Photo: Katharina Kemme

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In order to find a good moment to speak to her neighbors, Katharina Kemme often stood at her window between November and January.

If someone came around the corner, she ran down quickly.

“I was home a lot because of the pandemic.

Colleagues did photo projects about the Corona period, I thought there had to be something else. ”So she got to know the person who always cleans the stairwell and the person who has been a widower for a long time.

"It was good to waste a little time," says Kemme.

Photo: Katharina Kemme

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Jennifer has lived on the block with her husband Abdul and their two children for 17 years.

She works as a childminder, as a counterbalance she does kickboxing.

Photographer Kemme now knows who owns the punching bag that dangles from the ceiling in the in-house attic.

Photo: Katharina Kemme

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Brunhilde Kratz, 71, moved into the house 40 years ago.

Her husband was a lathe operator at Krupp and was therefore entitled to an apartment in the Simson Block.

Born in Essen, she spent half her life here and had a daughter with her husband.

He has since passed away, Brunhilde Kratz now lives alone.

Photo: Katharina Kemme

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Many, at whom Katharina Kemme rang the doorbell, let the photographer in and talked to her - but didn't want her to take any pictures afterwards.

It was different with this man.

Thomas Hill is 56, lives three floors above Kemme and is the only one who lets his laundry dry in the attic.

Kemme learned: Hill was born in England and now works as a teacher.

Kemme said he was reluctant.

However, he missed the contact with his students very much.

Often he can be heard whistling and humming while he cleans the stairwell.

Photo: Katharina Kemme

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Kemme learned from her neighbors what people like, what they work and what they yearn for.

"What I like about them is that most of them are not over the top, not fancy," she says.

“Some are alternative, almost all of them are sympathetic.

People with whom I have never sought an exchange before. "

Photo: Katharina Kemme

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Basti, 40, and Jerome, 35, have been married since 2018 and have lived in the Simson Block ever since.

The two were very networked in the neighborhood, said Kemme, and were the first to notice her because of their open and cordial manner.

Photo: Katharina Kemme

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Abdul Mourid, 54, plays in a reggae band.

He lives on the block with his wife Jennifer and their two children.

Kemme says: he can hardly wait to make music in public spaces again.

In summer he goes to festivals a lot or sells his self-made patchwork blankets in the courtyard.

Photo: Katharina Kemme

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What did the photographer Katharina Kemme take away from these special months?

"I feel a lot less alone now," she says.

“I feel better now, where I live, because I know those who surround me.

I now have the feeling: If something happens, I just have to come over and ring the bell. ”For example, with Marta, 63, who can no longer work as a hairdresser because of her arthritis - but puts a lot of effort into her garden.

"Today my neighbors and I greet each other much more," says Kemme.

"We look at each other differently."

Photo: Katharina Kemme