Today’s Berlin is constantly being likened to New York in the eighties or London in the nineties. As the current hub of international cool, Berlin needs a magazine befitting New York’s Interview or London’s The Face. 032c is that magazine. Joerg Koch, 032c’s founder and editor, explains his aesthetic and mission to us here.
AFH: Is 032c the same magazine now that you envisioned when you started?
JK: No, and yet the convictions of the magazine haven't changed since issue 1. We have always had a strong belief in DIY, a faith in the intelligence of its readers, and a promiscuous curiosity. Obviously the magazine has transformed itself massively throughout the times.
AFH: What is exciting to you about Berlin?
JK: Berlin's porous economic structure gives it a world of possibilities that other cities don't have.
AFH: What do you feel ought to be art's optimal relationship with fashion?
JK: To stay away. We feature both disciplines in 032c, but always try to stress, exaggerate, and indeed celebrate their differences.
AFH: How is 032c a publication that reflects Berlin?
JK: It was founded in Berlin, and would be very different if it came from somewhere else. The Berlin of the 1990s, in which artists were becoming DJs, architects artists, and so forth, has had a very strong impact on the magazine. At this point, however, it could really be produced anywhere. This is just where we live!
AFH: How do you select what warrants coverage in 032c? Or whom to work with?
JK: Our selection happens very naturally. Most coverage should be something quite specific, but through which you can enter and find a more aggregate worldview. In terms of people we work with, we collaborate with veterans and rookies in the house of 032c—we know who we can work with well, and are excited to work with others who we believe in.
AFH: Why did you decide to print text in English?
JK: Our audience has always been international.
AFH: What is the relevance of the Pantone Matching System to the content of the publication?
JK: 032c is the pantone code for red—bold, indiscrete, loud. Nuance is great too, but we lean more toward the brash.
AFH: What historic publications acted as templates or role models for you?
JK: 032c has always had a great interest in other publications, both current and historic. But the magazine itself has probably been more inspired by architecture and industrial design. Vanity Fair—with its combination of hardcore political and cultural content and fashion frivolity—is probably one of the stronger media influences for 032c.
AFH: Where do you envision Berlin fashion and Berlin Fashion Week going in the future?
JK: I'm no oracle, but I am curious about how it will work out, too.
[Images: Oliver Helbig]
