Photographer and visual artist Torsten Klinkow presents BOWLER BERLIN, an atmospheric project that pays homage to place, transience, and the surreal.
In an old factory building south of Berlin, he discovered a location that feels like a set from another era – industrial, abandoned, and full of visual tension. This is where BOWLER BERLIN was created for Berlin-based designer Martin Ruffert, whose label BOWLER BERLIN produces small-edition, individually crafted menswear.
The project bridges fashion and automotive culture – an aspect especially meaningful to Torsten Klinkow. He explains: “Last summer I worked on a shoot for a Berlin fashion designer south of Berlin. Yes, it was mainly fashion – but always with a link to cars. After so many automotive productions, it was incredibly inspiring to photograph fashion again, or in this case, to combine fashion and cars.”
The location itself became a central element of the visual narrative: “In a former pickle factory south of Berlin – hidden between old fish ponds and endless fields – I stumbled upon this almost surreal place: a hidden paradise for high-end classic cars.
It became the backdrop for our shoot with Berlin designer Martin Ruffert, surrounded by polished automotive icons and raw industrial poetry. The whole place felt more like a discovered film set than anything real. A huge thank-you to Edgar, Lorenz, Martin, Axel, and Yannick – couldn’t have created this vibe without you.”
Torsten Klinkow is represented by SEVERIN WENDELER.
