Sarah Schlemmer

Born in Vienna, Austria in 1986

Biography

I am the first-born daughter of my drug-addicted father and my patient mother
I am the first-born daughter of my drug-addicted father and my patient mother
Rennbahnweg, Donaustadt , Vienna , Austria
At age 4, I witness my father shooting up heroin and feel responsible to protect my sister
At age 4, I witness my father shooting up heroin and feel responsible to protect my sister
Rennbahnweg, Donaustadt , Vienna , Austria
At age 5, my father also sells our toys to finance his drug habit, and I do not understand why he prefers drugs to his children
At age 5, my father also sells our toys to finance his drug habit, and I do not understand why he prefers drugs to his children
Rennbahnweg, Donaustadt , Vienna , Austria
At age 5, my father is sentenced to prison, and from then onward moves back and forth between prison and home
At age 5, my father is sentenced to prison, and from then onward moves back and forth between prison and home
Schloßallee , Gemeinde Hollabrunn , Austria
At age 6, my grandfather moves in with us; my mother goes out and behaves like a slut, picks up strangers, and gets drunk
At age 6, my grandfather moves in with us; my mother goes out and behaves like a slut, picks up strangers, and gets drunk
Rennbahnweg, Donaustadt , Vienna , Austria
At age 7, I tell my mother about my grandfather's sexual harassment and she kicks him out
At age 7, I tell my mother about my grandfather's sexual harassment and she kicks him out
Rennbahnweg, Donaustadt , Vienna , Austria
Until age 11, I enjoy school and learning
Until age 11, I enjoy school and learning
Afritschgasse, Donaustadt , Vienna , Austria
At age 11, my mother separates from my father and I lose my confidant and companion
At age 11, my mother separates from my father and I lose my confidant and companion
Rennbahnweg, Donaustadt , Vienna , Austria
Since age 11, I encounter my mother with deep aggression
Since age 11, I encounter my mother with deep aggression
Rennbahnweg, Donaustadt , Vienna , Austria
At age 14, I experiment having sex with both men and women and smoke marijuana, try speed, ecstasy, LSD, heroin, and cocaine
At age 14, I experiment having sex with both men and women and smoke marijuana, try speed, ecstasy, LSD, heroin, and cocaine
Donauinsel, Donaustadt , Vienna , Austria
At age 15, I am pregnant and my mother forces me to have an abortion I drink alcohol and smoke marijuana
At age 15, I am pregnant and my mother forces me to have an abortion I drink alcohol and smoke marijuana
Kagran, Donaustadt , Vienna , Austria
At age 16, my sister introduces me to the junkie community I do excessive heroin and take all the drugs that are offered to me
At age 16, my sister introduces me to the junkie community I do excessive heroin and take all the drugs that are offered to me
Karlsplatz , Vienna , Austria
At age 17, I let myself be put on a rapid opiate detox with Substitol and I abandon my education
At age 17, I let myself be put on a rapid opiate detox with Substitol and I abandon my education
Karlsplatz , Vienna , Austria
At age 17, I get fine after fine for illegal prostitution on the streets, do time at the police detention centre Rossauer Lände in Vienna, and go back to street prostitution
At age 17, I get fine after fine for illegal prostitution on the streets, do time at the police detention centre Rossauer Lände in Vienna, and go back to street prostitution
Radingerstraße, Leopoldstadt , Vienna , Austria
At age 17, together with my boyfriend, I mug two girls, but we do not manage to steal their purses and are placed in investigative detention
At age 17, together with my boyfriend, I mug two girls, but we do not manage to steal their purses and are placed in investigative detention
Schwedenplatz, Innere Stadt , Vienna , Austria
At age 18, my father catches me doing drug-related prostitution, takes me to Greece, and sees me through detoxification with dihydrocodeine
At age 18, my father catches me doing drug-related prostitution, takes me to Greece, and sees me through detoxification with dihydrocodeine
Thasos , Greece
At age 19, my father has become a converted Jehovah's Witness, I lie to him about my drug use and expect him to understand me
At age 19, my father has become a converted Jehovah's Witness, I lie to him about my drug use and expect him to understand me
Rugierstraße, Donaustadt , Vienna , Austria
At age 21, I am addicted to drugs and get pregnant, take part in the therapy project “MOTHER” for pregnant, opioid addicted women, where I also receive guidance and opioid substitution therapy after the birth of my daughter
At age 21, I am addicted to drugs and get pregnant, take part in the therapy project “MOTHER” for pregnant, opioid addicted women, where I also receive guidance and opioid substitution therapy after the birth of my daughter
Währinger Gürtel, Alsergrund , Vienna , Austria
At age 23, I am clean, live in fear of the manipulations of my violent husband, get pregnant after being raped by him, and initially fail to bond with my second daughter
At age 23, I am clean, live in fear of the manipulations of my violent husband, get pregnant after being raped by him, and initially fail to bond with my second daughter
Donaufelder Straße , Vienna , Austria
Since age 24, I isolate myself and experience happiness solely with my children and at my work
Since age 24, I isolate myself and experience happiness solely with my children and at my work
Donaustadt , Vienna , Austria
At age 26, I meet old friends, shoot up morphine, and have a relapse
At age 26, I meet old friends, shoot up morphine, and have a relapse
Rennbahnweg, Donaustadt , Vienna , Austria
At age 27, I give my husband sole custody of our two daughters and our house and leave home so that my children will not notice my drug addiction
At age 27, I give my husband sole custody of our two daughters and our house and leave home so that my children will not notice my drug addiction
Siebenbürgerstraße, Donaustadt , Vienna , Austria
Since age 28, I live in addiction, depression, attempts at self-destruction, abortions, and hospitalisations
Since age 28, I live in addiction, depression, attempts at self-destruction, abortions, and hospitalisations
Obere Donaustraße, Alsergrund , Vienna , Austria
At age 30, I move to Lower Austria with my new boyfriend to get away from drugs, I become seriously ill and recover
At age 30, I move to Lower Austria with my new boyfriend to get away from drugs, I become seriously ill and recover
Eggenburg , Austria
At age 30, I talk to my daughters on the phone and only meet up with them in moments when my excessive cocaine consumption is not visible to them
At age 30, I talk to my daughters on the phone and only meet up with them in moments when my excessive cocaine consumption is not visible to them
Eggenburg , Austria
At age 31, my boyfriend is arrested, I lose our flat, move to Vienna to live with my drug-addicted sister, and take cocaine during my morphine substitution therapy
At age 31, my boyfriend is arrested, I lose our flat, move to Vienna to live with my drug-addicted sister, and take cocaine during my morphine substitution therapy
Siebenbrunnenfeldgasse, Margareten , Vienna , Austria
At age 35, my sister suffers a stroke and as a result is severely handicapped
At age 35, my sister suffers a stroke and as a result is severely handicapped
Siebenbrunnenfeldgasse, Margareten , Vienna , Austria
At age 36, my mother helps me to accept drug substitution and therapy
At age 36, my mother helps me to accept drug substitution and therapy
Rennbahnweg, Donaustadt , Vienna , Austria

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.

THE ISOLATED SPACE

THE PUBLIC SPACE

(no the public space spaces)

THE CULTURAL SPACE

(no the cultural space spaces)