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If it is true that puberty is the most exciting time in life, then many who are currently in it or who have already passed it will say: Well.
Puberty is above all: inner restlessness, first lovesickness, pimples on the cheeks, trouble at home.
And: lots of extremes.
The Austrian photographer Anna Breit visited Teeangerinnen and teenagers at exactly this time and photographed them in their rooms, in the center of the creation and processing of crass feelings.
Photo: Anna Breit
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"I wanted to find out whether these young people feel any differently today than when I was a teenager," says Breit, who is now 28 years old.
For her series »Teens in their Rooms«, Anna Breit spoke to various young people between 2019 and 2020, mainly in Vienna.
For example, she spoke to Adam, 18, asked him what was on his mind: he was very musical, played several instruments, made electronic music and wanted to be a producer.
Photo: Anna Breit
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Breit found young people in her own circle of acquaintances, through social networks - or she simply spoke to them on the street.
The photographer also wanted to find out what young people like to do, what sets them apart, apart from emotional stress.
Here: Andy, 17, who lives with her father and reads a lot.
Photo: Anna Breit
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Gedeon, 17, was reluctant at first, says Anna Breit, and then became more and more relaxed.
He likes to read comics, meet his friends, only the future is still a question mark: He doesn't yet know what he wants to become one day.
Photo: Anna Breit
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Lilly, 16, was on a "Black Lives Matter" demo in Vienna when Anna Breit met her.
Lilly is interested in politics, skateboarding, living right above her parents, almost like in her own apartment, says Breit.
"I have the feeling that many teenagers are more concerned with society and the consequences of politics than we did ten years ago," says the photographer.
"Many of them seem cooler and more reflective to me than I remembered myself and my friends from back then."
Photo: Anna Breit
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Kathi, 19: She spoke to her for a long time about love, says Anna Breit, about how quickly it can break.
"When we met, we were both in the middle of a breakup, that made us very connected," says the photographer.
With Kathi - and some other young people she accompanied for her series - she is still in contact to this day.
Photo: Anna Breit
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The room as an intimate place that the photographer entered with the young people: »During puberty, many still live at home, but at the same time emancipate themselves from their parents' home.
This is evident in the room. «Clothes, posters, concert tickets, photos, sayings on the walls - everything revolves around one's own interior.
Like here with Benico, 15, who plays in a band.
Photo: Anna Breit
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Venus, 19, dreams of being a successful model one day.
According to Breit, she now lives in Berlin, works as a stylist and piercer - and hangs up when there is no Corona.
Photo: Anna Breit
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Nico, 17: spends a lot of time with friends and is interested in tattoos, some of which he has himself.
He misses going out, says Anna Breit.
Nico's family has two dogs and two cats, with whom he deals a lot.
Photo: Anna Breit
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Shivi, 15, was photographed professionally for the first time - and was very excited, says Anna Breit.
Photo: Anna Breit
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Elijas likes to sing, paint and dance - and he is a very helpful person, says the photographer.
The 17-year-old was active in the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund.
Photo: Anna Breit
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The photos that Anna Breit took of the young people are gathered in this book, which will be published on April 26th.
While she was taking photos, says Breit, she also learned a lot about her own puberty, in retrospect.
Talking to the young people, taking pictures of them, brought back the questions that young people ask themselves.
Questions that may be worth asking again later: What do I really want?
Where do I want to be, how do I want to love?
Am i happy with the life i lead?
Photo: Anna Breit