Lieblingsmenschen
A collaboration with WUNDER journal - these portraits were taken of pairs of people with their 'lieblingsmensch;' their favourite person.
Rachel Barrie & Jackson Goebel
Friends
Rachel and Jackson’s friendship sparked from a shared love for art, fashion and garments, which continues to be a key aspect of their relationship and both of their lives. As students at the London College of Fashion, Rachel studies creative direction for fashion and Jackson studies footwear design. They became friends in their foundation year when Jackson stopped Rachel in the hallway to compliment her on her look. As the saying goes, “the rest is history,” Rachel adds. They have since become an incredible source of emotional support, guidance and humour for each other.
“I love Jackson because he always keeps it real with me and doesn’t sugar coat it, but at the same time he is so compassionate and patient and has made me laugh on even the worst of days. I love his eye-rolls and his sass, but beneath it all I love that he has a beautiful energy, is hella determined and is always there for me no matter what,” Rachel shares. Beyond their banter, there is a depth to their friendship that reminds you how precious friends really are. Jackson is equally as grateful for Rachel, explaining, “She is always challenging my thought process and helps me to tap into my emotions as well as dissect them. Above all, she’s honest and takes zero bullshit.”
Emma & Anna Wagenhofer
Sisters
Sisters Emma and Anna are almost two years apart in age but whenever they can, they do everything together. As the older sister, Emma goes through a lot of uncertainty at school with each passing year. Emma then uses her recent experiences to guide and reassure her younger sister when it is her turn to go through them. Just like when Anna gets scared during thunderstorms, the girls often insist that they should fall asleep in the same bed (despite complaining about the other’s snoring the next morning), so that they can chat and Emma can tell Anna a story to distract her or to convince her that everything will be ok. Anna finds her own ways to help her big sister, as Emma explains, “she is my favourite person because she makes me laugh, comforts me when I am feeling down and has my back when people are mean.”
These two are enough to make anyone want to have a sister as a best friend. When describing their relationship to others, their mother says, “they’re very different in character, but almost like couples in the way that opposites attract.” The girls are starting to develop into their own personalities, and, like most siblings, still have their fights. But, as their mum shares, “at the end of the day they always stand up for each other, because family is stronger than anything else.”
Ronél Irvine & Francein Strydom
Best Friends
Three years ago, the two South Africans met at a bible study group in Sevenoaks, a town south-east of London. Ronél went straight home afterwards, to tell her daughter about this carefree, energetic, compassionate and confident woman, whom she hoped to get to know better. Today, they are best friends and Ronél’s first impressions of Francein couldn’t have been more accurate. “I love her for her confidence in always being authentic in every way, never swayed by what other people might think. I love her for the way she dresses, for her energy, love of life and unwavering faith. In so many ways she inspires and builds me up,” Ronél says.
Francein hadn’t anticipated the friendship in the same way. “My life is full of caves into which I retreat every time I move countries. Despite vowing never to get close to anyone again, I met an incredible, wise and kind woman who I tried to avoid at all costs. With all her goodness and her love, she never gave up in pulling me out of my cave, and instead with such softness and persistence changed my life forever.” Francein has recently had to move overseas yet again and, despite retreating back into one of her caves, she says, “Ronél stays my lamp and has made me realise that, even with the distance, this friendship is everlasting.”
Kieran Bergholcs and Mac Winston
Housemates
Kieran and Mac, two 26-year-old housemates living together in a share-house in London fell in (platonic) love at first sight four months ago, when Kieran went to view the house and meet his potential housemates. Mac opened the front door and, after they both noticed the other was wearing a pair of RM Williams boots (“only a boot worn by the best kind of person,” as Kieran explains), they immediately knew that the house relationship would work and that any further conversation was effectively unnecessary. They very quickly became each other’s new favourite person and constant companions on their many nights out with their increasingly-large group of shared friends. Each morning before going to work they eat breakfast together in the garden, listening to BBC Radio 4 – where they argue about politics, their only point of difference.
If you were to meet them today, it wouldn’t take long to pick up on their shared sense of humour, the fact that they frequently finish each other’s sentences and, much like most people who see them together, it is easily assumed that these two are in a relationship. Even though they are not, it is incredibly refreshing to see two men so unafraid to show affection and to frequently share their appreciation of each other. “I had been warned that it would be really hard to find a house, let alone good housemates in London. I have been so lucky to end up in a house with Mac; becoming such solid friends so quickly can be attributed to his great personality and kindness.” It goes to show how easily and powerfully friendships can be formed, even when they are least expected.