Tobias Hug 1976 - 2020

hello friends (public post),

I wanted to send a quick note to say I'm taking it slow due to the death of one of my best friends Tobias Hug, who passed away on the 9th of Jan.

Tobi was one of my best friends, a musician and much more. in his words: "I’m a singer, beatboxer, choir conductor and ensemble leader as well as a programmer for acappella festival. I was in The Swingles for eleven years and am now a member of Beatbox Collective. I like to organise or facilitate music, teach it and perform it, freelancing, meandering and voyaging around the world, travelling between different vocal events, beatbox festivals etc"

I got to know Tobi in Hackney Wick, my neighbourhood in London, in 2012. We became friends ever since.

Tobi has been fighting stomach cancer for over a year and sadly lost the battle.

I was lucky enough to visit him in Freiburg (Germany) for 4 days just 4 days before he passed.

It's been very sad and I've been crying a lot.

I am sharing my thoughts on my Instagram and personal Facebook, you can follow me there if you wish.

...the work here will be resumed very soon, just needed few days to be with myself, and write few things down. I've also been diving into my archives to find pics and vids with Tobi. I made a post about it today.

Here's some words I published of Tobi yesterday. The picture is the one in the beginning of this post:

the void of your existence

seems to close down on me

like thick grey clouds

the gigs

the parties

the shared friendships

the countless meals we made for each other

the beautiful long deep conversations

intimate vulnerable confessions about our romantic relationships

abstract humorous philosophical ideas of music and beingness

and now, i'm left with

few photographs

videos

sounds

memories

but is this all there is?

no

your life’s work continues

you have touched so many

you have inspired so much

you created, initiated, gathered, curated, art-directed

in half a lifetime, you lived more than many us combined will ever live

countless artists and musicians are now carrying parts of your soul with them, where ever they go, with whatever they do

you’re immortal

your voice will carry on

with your magical bass-vibrations trademark hugs

with your warm beautiful radiophonic friendly so familiar and so comforting low voice

with your kindness and enthusiasm

with your love

you never really died

you’re here, forever, in all of us

thank you for being my friend in this life

thank you for accompanying me in spirit throughout the rest of my journey in this dimension

i will carry you where ever i go

thank you Tobias Rafael Hug

i love you

-

photo: taken in my Hackney Wick London studio, around the corner from Tobi's place, as part of my ‘Hackney Wick Portraits’ project. April  11, 2013.