Melanie Niedermeyer
Born in Salzburg, Austria in 1988.
Biography
Frankfurt, Germany
I am born into a Sinti [Romani people] family in Frankfurt, the youngest of 7 children
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Since I am born, my mother has no time for me because she is taking care of the children of my brother who is in prison
Daxluegstraße, Hallwang, Austria
At age 2, my father, a pimp, and his brother attack one of his prostitute's clients, who wants to buy her freedom
Frankfurt, Germany
At age 5, nobody tells me that my father has been sentenced to fifteen years in prison, so I think he is dead
Bessarabierstraße, Salzburg, Austria
At age 7, I am neglected and sent to stay with my grandmother in Salzburg, I feel rejected and have no contact with my mother or siblings
Bessarabierstraße, Salzburg, Austria
At age 9, I cook and clean all on my own at my strict grandmother's house
Salzburg, Austria
At age 9, I am aggressive toward my grandmother, cannot concentrate at school, and I am diagnosed with a learning disorder and hyperactivity
Bessarabierstraße, Salzburg, Austria
At age 12, my grandmother tells me that my father is alive
Südtiroler Platz, Salzburg, Austria
At age 14, I follow the example of my siblings and start to take drugs with friends
Forum, Salzburg, Austria
At age 14, I am disappointed, I start to steal and drop out of school
Bessarabierstraße, Salzburg, Austria
At age 17, I get to know my father and have good conversations with him when I am on ecstasy
Taxham, Salzburg, Austria
At age 18, I fall in love with a man who mistreats me and I stab him
Prison Schanzlgasse, Salzburg, Austria
At age 18, after my arrest, I am diagnosed with a personality disorder, drug dependency, and developmental delay, and I am sentenced for negligently causing bodily harm
Prison Schanzlgasse, Salzburg, Austria
At age 19, I go cold turkey while in prison, I get drug substition treatment with morphine and I feel better; the sadness remains
Prison Schanzlgasse, Salzburg, Austria
At age 20, I get clean for the sake of my mother, and relapse after my release from prison
Prison Schanzlgasse, Salzburg, Austria
Between ages 19 and 21, my drug substitution is shifted several times between morphine, methadone, and benzos and I stay depressed
Pressbaum, Austria
At age 21, I fall in love and want to go into therapy, but instead I am sent to prison for an old sentence related to attempted theft
Prison Schanzlgasse, Salzburg, Austria
At age 23, my brother commits suicide; I am not permitted to attend his funeral, I try different forms of therapy in prison and relapse
Leonhard-von-Keutschach-Straße, Salzburg, Austria
At age 24, I am released from prison
Prison Schanzlgasse, Salzburg, Austria
At age 25, I learn while in prison that my mother has died, and I lack any kind of attachment figure
Salzburg, Austria
At age 26, I am homeless and am permitted to sleep at my sister's home. She is my new attachment figure
Salzburg, Austria
At age 26, I sleep in a tent with my new boyfriend
Alpenstraße, Salzburg, Austria
At age 27, methadone and benzos are not helping enough
Hospital, Salzburg, Austria
At age 28, my father dies
Prison, Hallein, Austria
At age 28, I am convicted for theft, attempted coercion, attempted bodily harm, grievous bodily harm, and obstructing a police officer in the performance of his duty, but will serve my sentence in 2 years’ time
Prison, Hallein, Austria
At age 29, my boyfriend commits a robbery and I defend him with violence
Prison, Hallein, Austria
At age 30, I start my 4-year prison sentence and am diagnosed with hepatitis C
Prison, Hallein, Austria
At age 31, my boyfriend is deported to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Prison, Hallein, Austria
At age 33, I am accused of violence towards my fellow inmates
Prison, Schwarzau am Steinfeld, Austria
I actually am a good person, but I become aggressive so easily
Salzburg, Austria
21 September 1988 – January 2024
Related spaces
The conceptual architecture of TBDWBAJ is based on the investigation of various social spaces, isolated space, cultural space, public space and virtual space. Each of these rooms describes a phase of the project and takes on a different perspective.