Sven Kirsten's life began in 1955, amidst the bustling port city of Hamburg, Germany, where the sounds of the sea and the rhythms of international trade filled the air. Legend has it that his conception was a serendipitous event, taking place on a freighter belonging to his grandfather's esteemed Hamburg-Chicago line, as it navigated the vast expanse between America and Germany - a journey marked by long, grueling hours at sea. This extraordinary circumstance may have unwittingly instilled in Sven a sense of wanderlust, a yearning to explore the world beyond his hometown's borders.
Years later, in 1980, Sven would heed the call to adventure, drawn to the vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere of the Reeperbahn red light district in Hamburg. The eclectic mix of sailor's bars, street performers, and exotic curiosities that lined the streets of this storied neighborhood would serve as a catalyst for his journey, inspiring him to set sail for distant shores and discover the wonders that lay beyond the horizon.
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Sven's educational journey began with a brief stint at the renowned San Francisco Art Institute, where he initially honed his artistic skills. However, his true calling lay in the realm of cinematography, which is why he subsequently enrolled at the prestigious American Film Institute in Los Angeles. It was during his time at the American Film Institute that Sven developed a deep fascination with the unique aesthetic extremes of Los Angeles, a city that would later become a significant source of inspiration for his work.
In parallel to his studies, Sven pursued a variety of projects, including music videos and feature films with notable artists such as Tom Waits, Sergio Mendes, and Robert De Niro. Meanwhile, he also nurtured his passion for urban archeology, a hobby that would eventually become a defining aspect of his creative identity. Over the course of the last decade, Sven has dedicated himself to documenting and collecting the remnants of the vanishing Tiki cult in America, a unique and previously unexplored facet of American pop culture.
Sven's magnum opus, the Book of Tiki, is a visual testament to the captivating allure of this often-overlooked aspect of American cultural heritage. When not working on high-profile projects, such as shooting cable TV movies in Europe, Sven can be found in his hilltop home overlooking the picturesque Silverlake reservoir in the heart of Los Angeles, where he resides with his 9-year-old son, Diego.
