‘Don’t be scared my friend’ is one of my ‘cane paintings system’ inspired by a short motorcycle ride I took with my Turkish roommate Engin around Eskişehir. The experience, which centred on a different sense of fear and riding styles, formed the basis for this work.

Our day started quietly, and we decided to go for a motorcycle ride. We started at the bakery around the corner, where we got simit. Then we sped through the busy city traffic, zigzagging at high speed, which made me nervous because of the chaotic driving style and heavy traffic. Outside the city, the asphalt turned into a semi-paved road full of potholes, but Engin drove on without slowing down. As we climbed the highest mountain in the area, I had to surrender to the feeling of being unsafe. At the top of the mountain, we stopped for a moment to enjoy the view. When I started the downhill ride behind the wheel, I leaned into the corners as I was used to driving. After less than half a minute, I heard a high-pitched voice behind me say, ‘Florian, I’m scared.’ Engin wasn’t used to my riding style, which in my eyes is more controlled. I quickly pulled the motorcycle over to the side of the road and he continued on his drive. The realisation that everyone experiences the same thing differently and feels different fears has always stayed with me and forms the core of this work.