Where it began
This project was first inspired in childhood, rooted in questions about the moon that never quite went away.
It gained a muse and a momentum after meeting a child who shared the same fascination with that rock in the sky — and the story finally had somewhere to go.
Early sketches
Once production got rolling, the book took five years to develop. The earliest pages began as rough sketches — exploring composition, character, and the night sky itself.
Testing materials
Many different illustration styles and materials were tested along the way — watercolor, markers, woodcuts, and colored pencils all had their moment.
Each medium brought its own texture to the cosmos, but none of them seemed ideal.
Glue, paper, and a collage breakthrough
These experiments finally culminated in a set of images made with glue and colored construction paper — the same way children make their first collages. It felt right.
As the illustrations and story evolved, so did the characters. The cosmic guide, Edward Crumb (in German: Edward Krümel), was first envisioned as a gnome — before evolving into a creature based on a real little Dachshund/Chihuahua mix named Cupcake.
Berlin as a character
Berlin became a character in its own right. Iconic city scenes from Berlin Mitte inspired many of the night flight images that carry the story across the sky.
Two books — and a gallery show
The finished project became two hardcover books, in English and German. Alongside them, a gallery show displays framed original works and a set of three-dimensional, interactive pieces representing the moon and space.
The show takes place on November 9th, 2025, with music from Friends of Fido.