The Art of Kink: An Interview with The Berlin Chameleon

Exploring Photography, Politics, and the Pulse of Berlin’s Underground

Berlin has long been a haven for those who seek freedom—sexual, artistic, and political. The Berlin Chameleon, a photographer deeply embedded in the city’s kink and underground scene, speaks to us about their insights on transformation, creativity, and the ever-changing landscape of Berlin’s subcultures. From capturing raw intimacy to navigating the complexities of power and consent, they explore the intersection of art, sexuality, and politics in a city that thrives on reinvention.

Photography and Inspiration

You call yourself The Berlin Chameleon—a name that suggests transformation and adaptability. What does it say about your photography?

This name emerged almost instinctively, resonating with me on multiple levels. I've always seen myself as a chameleon, adept at adapting to different worlds and people. For me, the realm of kink, fetish, and BDSM is inherently about transformation—it’s a space where you can embrace various personas, roles, genders, and positions of both power and submission. As a switch, this not only influences how I view intimacy but also how I approach my photography.

"The act of photographing shares deep parallels with play sessions—it’s about trust, leadership, surrender, and, above all, consent."

Berlin has a long history of sexual liberation and underground culture. How does the city shape your work?

No city has ever felt like home the way Berlin does. For kinksters and those who have always felt out of place in conventional society, Berlin offers a sense of belonging like no other. The city encourages self-acceptance and silences self-judgment.

"Berlin is also a constant act of improvisation. So many things go wrong in this city that you’re better off getting used to it. I find that incredibly liberating."

Your photography blends sensuality, power, and raw emotion—what draws you to these themes?

I believe these themes naturally emerge when you take a closer look at intimacy, sexuality, and human relationships. BDSM is often misunderstood as violent or associated with toxic power dynamics. But when it takes place consensually, it is about communication and vulnerability, pleasure and safety.

"Nothing fosters intimacy more than revealing one’s vulnerability to another."

You capture kink in a way that feels both intimate and cinematic. Do you see yourself more as an artist, a documentarian, or something in between?

I strive to capture magic authentically, as if I were merely slipping the camera between my eyes and the scene—conveying an effortless perspective so that others might see it the same way. The line between staged and found moments often blurs, just as it does between artist and documentarian.

Do you have specific inspirations—films, music, places—that fuel your process?

Reading—far more than visual stimuli—fuels my inspiration. But above all, it’s people and their stories, both real and fictional, that inspire me the most. The most inspiring spaces, faces, and experiences find you when you follow your curiosity and listen to whatever makes your heart race.

Kink and Politics

Berlin is often called a “sex-positive utopia”—do you think that’s still true, or has the scene changed?

I don’t believe there’s a single “scene” in Berlin—there are multiple, more or less overlapping bubbles. The only constant in the universe is change, and in Berlin, this truth feels especially pronounced. Compared to the rest of Germany—and many places in the world—Berlin remains extraordinarily free.

"We should never take the freedoms we enjoy in Berlin today for granted."

Fetish, BDSM, and body politics are inherently tied to power dynamics. How do you see your work within the larger conversation about power, consent, and freedom?

Now, more than ever, it is crucial to fight for human rights and equality, against racism and sexism, and for an open and pluralistic society. The fetish community is deeply supportive, and I would love to see that solidarity extend beyond its borders.

Berlin has a deep history of counterculture movements—punk, squats, techno, sexual revolution. Do you see your work as political?

Yes, I inevitably see my work as political. Fetish, BDSM, and body politics are inherently political. While Berlin remains a stronghold of subcultures, we must constantly remind ourselves that we are an island—surrounded by forces that seek to dismantle human rights.

"It is absolutely essential that we continue to fight for these spaces—places where solidarity, connection, and shared experiences can thrive."

Do you think Berlin’s kink scene is being diluted by mainstream interest?

A certain fetish aesthetic has undeniably made its way into the mainstream. Some may have hoped this would lead to less stigmatization, but kink-shaming persists. I believe we should resist tribalism and open doors rather than close them.

"Maybe, just maybe, the KitKat tourist in a choker isn’t an enemy but a potential ally in the future."

A Berlin Perspective

Berlin has been a haven for misfits, artists, and outlaws—do you think the city is still a playground for creative freedom, or is that changing?

Thankfully, I still experience Berlin as somewhat rebellious. That gives me hope—that it will continue to have an open heart for those who resist a life centered solely around functioning.

"We shouldn’t need to reference the Nazi regime’s cultural policies to recognize how dangerous it is to dismiss art and culture as ‘unnecessary luxuries.’"

Many artists are being priced out as the city gentrifies. Do you think Berlin’s underground art scene is in danger?

Various funding programs are essential for survival, and despite political denial, cultural initiatives are already disappearing. Artists have always found ways to survive, but in this political climate, we need resistance through art more than ever.

If someone wanted to understand Berlin’s real underground, where would you take them?Depends on the season. In autumn, maybe the Porn Film Festival. Some bars in Schöneberg, Möbel Olfe, Klub Verboten. A few underground publishing events like Miss Read. But honestly, the best plan would be ending the night with the right people, an afterparty at someone’s place, and then a hungover morning at Drachenberg with a camera and cold drinks.

Do you see yourself as provoking, documenting, or preserving Berlin’s kink and underground culture?

When I began documenting kink, it became more than just personal storytelling—it became a way of preserving a piece of Berlin’s underground culture.

"There’s something incredibly meaningful about recording the history of kinksters. It allows people to see their experiences reflected, to know their journey is part of a broader narrative."

What do you want people to feel when they look at your photos?

For me, success is when people look at my photos and say, I know how that smells. I know how that sounds. I’ve seen this before. I understand this. I can feel this.

How come you chose to live in Berlin? And what has the city brought you?

I've explored many places, but no city has ever embraced me like Berlin. It has brought me immense joy and tears, a sense of belonging I never thought possible.

"At the end of the day, we influence whether Berlin remains 'poor but sexy' or turns into 'rich and dull.'"

You can find more of The Berlin Chameleon's work and publications here: theberlinchameleon.com and on Instagram

Interview by Amanda Sandström Beijer