In loving memory of Kreso Mrkonja aka Bboy Krilin / TRU CRU

Kreso Mrkonja aka Bboy Krilin (member of TRU CRU) at Hip Hop Kulturzentrum Combo Karlsruhe, 27.10.2013 by Mary Kwizness — Kreso Mrkonja aka Bboy Krilin (member of TRU CRU) at Combo Karlsruhe, 27.10.2013

Instagram post by marykwizness from 12.08.2024:

My heart is bleeding. 💔💔💔

Ever since I found out about it, I've been crying nonstop. 😭😭😭😭😭

You said I'm your favorite photographer.

I said you're my favorite model.

Although I haven't been on the road with you for almost 10 years, we were still writing to each other in May 2024.

I'm sure I have hundreds of photos of you,

all perfect, of course,

because you always made it look easy,

but this one from 2013 is legendary:

A snapshot at 10:30 in the morning back at Combo Karlsruhe after a wild night of partying.

A butterfly landed on your hand and I joked: "Always carrying a Butterfly with him."

lol 🥲

I will miss you.

Farewell, my sweetheart! 🤍🕊️🤍

Instagram post by TRU CRU from 12.08.2024:

Dear Family, Friends, and Community,

On August 11, 2024, we tragically lost our beloved friend and brother, Kreso Mrkonja, far too soon. Kreso leaves a void in our hearts that can never be filled.

On behalf of his family and friends, we are asking for your support to cover the costs of his funeral and the necessary legal expenses so that the perpetrator receives the justice they deserve. Every donation, whether large or small, is a sign of solidarity and compassion in this difficult time.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support and compassion.

Sincerely,

Deniz Jurado

On behalf of the family, friends and Tru Cru of Kreso Mrkonja aka Krilin

https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/972l1IcAyS

Instagram story by Kwiz from 13.08.2024:

"From now on I will always think of you whenever I see a butterfly."

There was not even one minute between these two shots (his portrait and the butterfly on his hand).

The butterfly wouldn't leave for what felt like 5 minutes although Kreso gesticulated wildly. He started saying: "This is my new homie! I met him while partying and brought him home with me."

After his death, several mutual friends independently told me about magical experiences with butterflies, which they connected to Kreso, even before they heard about my story.

Instagram reel by marykwizness from 14.08.2024:

Throwback to Europe Battle Pro at Underground Movement Ulm 20.02.2016

Never forget the good times we had together!

✨🫶✨

We love you @babakrilin 🦋✨🕊️

additional comment from 19.08.2024:

I just found out that this was even the last time I've ever seen him. 😮🤯
There are no more other shots of him from after that weekend. 😭💔
I never thought it's been 8,5 years!! Feels like yesterday...

Instagram post by Deniz / Bboy El Turco (member of TRU CRU) from 15.08.2024:

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We are deeply moved and grateful for the incredible support we have received during this difficult time. Together, we have raised over €20,000 – a sum that shows how much Kreso meant to all of us. Your generosity and compassion have touched us deeply. Kreso would be proud of us.

The funds raised will be used for the funeral, legal expenses, and the maintenance of Kreso’s grave. The remaining amount will be given to his loved ones to support them during this tough time.

We are still waiting for the funeral date and will keep you informed as soon as we know more.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Instagram reel by marykwizness from 16.08.2024:

A collection of photos by @marykwizness since 2012

You will forever be in our hearts. ❤️❤️❤️

Instagram post by marykwizness from 18.08.2024:

Jenso, Krilin & Sung at SOUL EXPRESSION (Chemnitz, Germany) 2013

"When your shadow looks like a gun 😎🔥" Bboy Krilin at NEED FOR DANCE (Souffelweyersheim, France) 2013 & EVOLUTION EUROPE (Rastatt, Germany) 2014

Bboy Krilin at INT. DAVY-BACK BATTLE (Ostfildern, Germany) 2013 & TRU CRU and friends at Underground Movement Ulm 2016

Bboy Krilin at INT. DAVY-BACK BATTLE (Ostfildern, Germany) 2013 & Bboy Lyndon aka Rasta at INT. BBOY GAMES GERMANY (Aalen, Germany) 2013

Bboy Krilin at SOUL EXPRESSION (Chemnitz, Germany) photos sent via Facebook messenger 2013, Kwiz: "Boyyyy, what'cha doin there!? 🤣🤣🤣" - Kreso: "😂😂 Feeling this so hard tho!"

@babakrilin x @marykwizness Instagram DMs about a lost tape from a drunk night, the only recording of us both together ever! Pleaseee someone send it to me! 😭😭

Bboy Krilin Facebook advertising running gag by Mary Kwizness, photo: INT. BBOY GAMES GERMANY (Aalen, Germany) 2013

May 2024: Last Instagram story shared by @babakrilin of a photo by marykwizness from 17 YEARS BATTLE TOYS ANNIVERSARY (Plochingen, Germany) 2014

Levent & Krilin at SOUL EXPRESSION (Chemnitz, Germany) 2013 via Facebook comments

Bboy Krilin at RAW CIRCLES (Antwerp, Belgium) 2013

Yesterday night I found 200 photos of Kreso / Krilin on my hard drive before I had to force myself to sleep at 8:30 am because I had completely forgotten to sleep or eat for 2 days. There are probably more photos, but I left it at that.

[comment from 01.09.: In the meanwhile I found more than 400 photos of him.]

My folders are sorted by events, e.g. "2012_12_15 Gorilla Legion Battle" and sometimes contain 1,000 or even up to 2,000 photos, depending on the size of the event. I don't use tags or facial recognition, and there are no more tagged photos of him on Facebook.

Out of a total of 270,000 photos on my PC, I manually clicked through events by memory that I knew or suspected he had been at. And then clicked through thousands of photos one by one, because you can't always immediately recognize dancers from thumbnails.

So many memories came flooding back. So many surprises about everything I had experienced and forgotten. So many pictures that made me laugh out loud.

There were also photos that I hadn't really noticed at the time 11 or 12 years ago because - for me as a beginner - they weren't spectacular enough, but that I love now because he smiles so beautifully.

It's unbelievable how much you can forget in the course of your life.

Interesting, though, that very special key moments pop up randomly again and again throughout your life and you can still remember exactly how you felt back then. Some moments with him were unforgettable, even though it was sooo many years ago. ❤️❤️❤️

And then, when you hear the news of his death, hundreds of "new" memories suddenly pop up within minutes that were buried deep. All at the same time. 🤯

For my portfolio as marykwizness, I would have lacked any energy and motivation for such a monster project (my latest Krilin Tribute Reel), but I'm currently obsessed with soaking up memories of him and sinking into nostalgia. ❤️‍🩹

Why aren't we like that to each other when someone is still alive?

Instagram post by Deniz / Bboy El Turco (member of TRU CRU) from 18.08.2024: