Mike and his Sax

The Rosenthaler Platz underground station in Berlin is a jazz club, art gallery, and meeting place all in one. And that's because of one man with his saxophone and his stories. Photographer Istabraq documented Maik and his sax with his camera. Istabraq is a graduate of the journalism training course "Photojournalism and Visual Storytelling" with trainer Sven Creutzmann, where the photo series was created.

Klick to listen to Mike's sax:

Just the two of us

Mike Basden aka Malakai, a homeless street musician, taking a rest between his live musical sessions in the Rosenthaler Platz underground station in central Berlin. Since many of his older saxophones were stolen in and around the station, Mike holds his soprano saxophone close to him because of he fears further thefts.

Moment of glory

Mike Basden aka Malakai, showing on a tablet a Wynton Marsalis concert at which he played in the Philharmonie Berlin on 18 October 2021. Malakai used to work as an assistant for Wynton Marsalis in the US. When the world-famous trumpet player celebrated his 60th birthday in Berlin, he asked Malakai to give a guest appearance. It can still be watched and heard on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2ibq0ufngb0?si=qOlh62xjG2Z2O900

A home outside

Malakai sitting outside the Rosenthaler Platz underground station, a place he has been forced to call home for the past years. After being kicked out of the station by security guards because of a complaint, Malakai spends the evening outside. “Underground” is called “U-Bahn” in German, an abbreviation of the word “underground train” (Untergrund-Bahn).

Concert hall with rails

Passers-by watch, dance and enjoy as Mike Basden plays music inside the Rosenthaler Platz underground station. He chose this station because of the acoustics, he says.

The cartoonist

Mike also likes to draw cartoons of people and passers-by and usually sells or gifts them to the people he sketches. ‘7 Days’ was written on the ground as an inspiration from the film ‘The Ring’, a psychological thriller.

Mike’s own view on things

The day of the release of Malakai’s book entitled ‘The Book of Malakai’, some fans come together at the Rosenthaler Platz underground station and Mike starts telling stories and playing music. The book tells stories invented by Malakai, shows his cartoons as well as pictures which influenced him.

A gallery in the underground

On a cold night in January, Malakai warms up in the underground station and tries to sell some of his art. Around him are his belongings, food donations from passers-by and alcohol to keep him warm. Many underground stations in Berlin are used during winter by homeless people to stay warm.

You walk never alone

Two of Malakai’s fans pass by one night and start chatting with him. The man on the right, Andrea, will invite Mike to stay over at his flat very close to the underground station.

A break from the cold

As a thank-you for letting him stay with him for a night in his flat, Mike gives Andrea a drawing he made of him in a few seconds.

Midnight lullaby

Mike sits on Andrea’s bed and plays his saxophone until late. The loud sound annoys and wakes up Andrea’s roommates, who repeatedly complain.

Dinner time

When dinner is ready, Mike starts telling stories again about his life.

Still just the two of us

Finally, Mike can fall asleep on a bed indoors, a rare moment of peace and quiet from the noise and bustle of Berlin's streets. As usual, he keeps a firm grip on his saxophone, even when sleeping.

About the Photographer

Meet the Photographer

Istabraq Hussain

Istabraq Hussain is an artist whose work includes photo series, videos and interactive projects in public spaces. His practice explores themes of improvisation, storytelling and the nature of the fleeting moment, which he often documents through visual media. Istabraq was born and raised in the Emirates, but has always been part of the international diaspora which explains his interest in the communities’ lives and struggles, which he likes to document in his work.

Istabraq holds a Bachelor degree in Interior Design from the Ajman University of Science and Technology, plus a Diploma of Freie Kunst (Fine Arts) from the Hochschule für Künste Bremen. He has lived in Germany since 2017.