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The Germany in NYC Map - Discovering German Traces
Germany in NYC, © GKNY
A special project from the press team of the German Consulate General that explores German influences across the city.
The team of the Consulate General is excited to launch the “Germany in NYC” map. The map highlights 30 historical and contemporary German landmarks, including two tours in Manhattan: the former “Kleindeutschland” in the East Village and the Upper East Side. This project features the work of Swiss illustrator Simon Kiener and historic research by Julian Voloj that explores German influences across the city.
Simon Kiener discovered his love for New York City in late 2019, after graduating as an illustrator and cartoonist from Hochschule Luzern Design Film Kunst in Switzerland and Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig in Germany. His daily life inspires his autobiographical comic strips. He is fascinated by New York's architecture and perspectives, and has a strong preference for clear black lines in his work. Additionally, he is a co-founder of a labor union for Swiss illustrators at syndicom. In April 2024, he published his first book, “New York City Guide in Postcards”.
Julian Voloj is a New York based photographer and writer who has documented the city's history and neighborhoods extensively in his work. Born in Muenster, Germany, to Colombian parents, he moved to New York City in 2003, where he founded JWalks, a nonprofit focusing on oral histories in neighborhoods off the beaten track, photo-documentary, and walking tours. In 2012, the German Consulate in New York showed a retrospective of his photographic work titled “Only in New York.” His award-winning graphic novels include “The Joe Shuster Story: The Artist Behind Superman”, “Black & White: The Rise and Fall of Bobby Fischer” and “(Not) A New York Love Story”. Julian is the co-author and co-creator of “Can You Dig It?”, an Audible Original podcast documenting the events that led to the 1971 Bronx gang truce that paved the way for hip hop. He lives in Sunnyside, Queens, with his wife and two sons.
Where can I find a copy of the map?
Copies of the “Germany in NYC” map are available in the lobby of the German House, 871 United Nations Plaza, during normal business hours (M-F 9:00 am - 5:00 pm).