In(ter)Ception: The Tale of J.T. Bieber

NEW PROJECT - COMING SOON!!!

IN(ter)CEPTION: The Tale of J.T. Bieber (2023-2025)

IN(ter)CEPTION: The Tale of J.T. Bieber is an artistic research project exploring the enduring impact of transgenerational trauma. Through the lens of a single personal story, it illuminates the far-reaching consequences of global conflicts and their imprint on future generations.

This project reveals the story of Jonas Tobias Bieber, born in 1982 in Berlin—a man shaped by two contrasting family legacies. On his mother’s side, his Catholic ancestors thrived as craftsmen and entrepreneurs. His grandfather, a lawyer, was forced to join the Nazi Party to continue practicing law and later served in the Wehrmacht, returning wounded and deeply traumatized. In 1943, he left the party, a move that harmed his career. Struggling with guilt, he instilled in his children a profound sense of moral responsibility. His daughter, Elisabeth—Jonas’ mother—dedicated her life to peace work and secretly married Jonas’ father, Jewish writer and scholar Leon Bieber. Her father ultimately accepted the marriage, emphasizing faith over religious identity.

On his father’s side, Jonas descends from a Jewish family of East Prussian origin. His grandparents married on Kristallnacht (November 9, 1938) and fled to Bolivia, losing everything, while his great-grandmother was executed by the Nazis. His grandfather, once distinguished physiotherapist, rebuilt his career in Bolivia, where Jonas’ father was born. Years later, Jonas’ parents met at a Berlin university. When Jonas and his sister Anna were born, Elisabeth promised their Jewish grandparents they would not be raised with antisemitic beliefs.

The story of J.T. Bieber demonstrates that trauma is inherited from both sides—not only the Jewish lineage. In every conflict, suffering extends across borders, binding people to forces beyond their control. Echoing H. Arendt’s concept of plurality—the coexistence of uniqueness and shared humanity—this story highlights the paradox of the human nature.

The torn identity at the core of this project resonates with my own family history. As a Jewish-Ukrainian immigrant, my search for belonging and overcoming transgenerational trauma has been a continuous journey. IN(ter)CEPTION situates personal narrative within broader societal context, showing how individual experiences shape collective memory. Amid today’s global wars, rising chauvinism, and nationalistic violence, my hope as an artist is to inspire dialogue through photography, provoking thought, fostering empathy, and encouraging transformation.