By Carlos Contreras
The television tower is available as a soap, as a candlestick, as a stacking game. But only Robert Kowarik (35) carries it on his back! His tattoo made the Berliner-by-choice the star of a new campaign for the capital’s famous landmark.
“More to see than in the Kit Kat” – this is the motto under which Kowarik, who has worked at the legendary club for ten years, presents his downside. With this and other cool motifs and sayings (e.g. “Finally being back on it”), the Kreuzbergkind agency is promoting that the television tower (1.2 million visitors a year) will once again become a highlight for Berliners – and not just for tourists.
Tattoo and campaign made Kowarik famous. 20,000 fans follow him on Instagram (@garde_robe_rt) Photo: Promotion/TV Tower Berlin
Kowarik’s passion for the city literally gets under your skin – from the rump to the neck. The 55-year-old original is 368 meters high, its fake body 70 centimeters. He had them pierced years ago: “I wanted something big, something unique, something that made my love for Berlin unmistakably clear. The TV tower is the ultimate symbol of our city, so I got it tattooed.”
If you take a closer look, however, you will see that the striking tower with the ball is an ancient column. A tribute to the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), who painted her spine as a cracked stone pillar after an operation.
Rarely seen from the front: Robert Kowarik (35) Photo: Stefanie Herbst
“For me, Berlin is a city that thrives on change. The television tower is one of them – even if some don’t like it!” says Kowarik, who guides tourists through the metropolis on the Spree in his free time.
The tattoo motif and campaign have made Kowarik famous: “Since then I’ve gained a lot of notoriety in the club scene.” More than 20,000 fans already follow him on Instagram (@garde_robe_rt).