The Schöneberg gallery The Ballery is presenting works by renowned photographers Wolfgang Tillmans, Herbert List, Bruce Weber, and many others in a deeply personal exhibition curated by Swiss collector Marco Habrik. As a labor and business lawyer, Marco Habrik (58) lives primarily in his head. But as a photography collector, the Swiss native listens to his inner voice, following his gut and heart. "Collecting is my outlet - it prevents me from losing it," says the Zurich resident before the opening of his first self-curated exhibition at Berlin's The Ballery gallery. However, his stomach is a bit nervous, and his heart is beating faster. This marks the first time the reserved Swiss collector is bringing his name and the collection he has assembled since 2000 into the public eye. "I've only occasionally loaned works for exhibitions and always remained anonymous in the background," Habrik explains. This Schöneberg exhibition has so much to do with himself and his life that he's taking the leap into the spotlight. "We Met in Summer" features photographs by icons like Wolfgang Tillmans, Herbert List, Will McBride, and Bruce Weber, all united by a single theme: young men at water, in water, and under water. The personal connection runs deep: "On July 31, 1994, I met Simon at Lake Zurich, and from this summer romance came a three-year relationship," Habrik reveals. The British Simon Williams (49) has been running The Ballery gallery in Berlin since 2014, specializing in queer artistic positions, and convinced his friend to mount this exhibition. Habrik agreed under one condition: alongside works from his collection, photographs by a newcomer would also be displayed. His choice fell on Alsatian artist Arthur Heck (25), whose images under the title "I Might Have Burned Myself" also reflect the water theme. Ironically, "I'm not really fond of being in water," Heck admits, "and I definitely don't go into the ocean." Over the years, Habrik's collection has grown to 300 fine, exclusive works. He laughs, "At some point I realized I simply don't have enough walls for all the pictures. So I hung some in the law office and in friends' apartments." Among the notable artists in his collection is Chris Levine, who has photographed the Queen, the Dalai Lama, and Banksy. Smiling, Habrik points to Wolfgang Tillmans' self-portrait in a swimming pool wearing red Adidas swim trunks. "That's a direct reminder of my own youth. We all wore red swim trunks like that back then!" The exhibition represents a significant milestone for Habrik, who has spent over two decades quietly building his collection while maintaining his anonymity. His partnership with Williams, both personal and professional, has created the perfect opportunity to share these carefully curated works that speak to themes of youth, summer romance, and aquatic imagery. The show brings together established photography masters with emerging talent, creating a dialogue between generations of artists who have captured the timeless appeal of young men in aquatic settings. The exhibition "We Met in Summer" runs from June 27 to August 16, Monday through Saturday, 1-5 PM, at Gallery The Ballery, Nollendorfstrasse 11, Schöneberg.