Are we there yet — Bachelor Thesis
Part I
Visual Research
Editorial Design
Photography
Illustration
In my Bachelor project, created during the COVID-19 pandemic, I explored and conceptually analysed the idea of virtual travel as an image-based experience. I embarked on an extensive digital journey that tested both my emotional and physical boundaries — at times metaphorically, and at others, quite literally.
Driven by curiosity and a desire to examine the authenticity of virtual travel, I approached this project as a kind of pilgrimage — a test of emotional resilience, endurance, and the search for meaning in digital exploration.
By immersing myself exclusively in digital itineraries and images from Google Street View, I questioned whether this act of “going far away while staying home” could ever feel authentic, enjoyable, or truly memorable. Throughout the process, I placed strong emphasis on visual documentation to highlight the credibility and authenticity of my virtual journey.
2021–2022
Part II
The resulting photo book presents the outcome of this exploration and serves as a personal photographic travel diary. It features numerous screenshots captured throughout the journey — entirely and intentionally devoid of text. The narrative unfolds through dense visual material: black-and-white photographs sometimes overlaid with scribbles, other images, or collage cut-outs — a fusion of analog and digital techniques.
By allowing curiosity to guide me and replacing Google Street View’s robotic gaze with the reflective, imaginative, and selective perspective of the flâneur, I gradually built my own narrative. Through this process, I shaped my understanding and found personal meaning within these externally and mechanically recorded virtual locations. By substituting mechanical objectivity with the aesthetic gaze of a human observer, I re-infused these navigable virtual spaces with a sense of enchantment, transforming them into subjective realms open to reflection and interpretation.
Mementos unveils the essence of virtual flânerie and my pursuit of authenticity. Each image embodies my interpretation of a location — shaped by self-reflection and emotional response to what appeared on screen. Every spread is individually designed to emphasize the distinctiveness of each moment, bringing personal commentary and a touch of poetry to the journey.