by Anna C. Purcell // Sept. 11, 2012
In the tradition of Art Forum’s previous efforts, the second week of September will inhabit the city with a new visage: Berlin Art Week. The event, which will be marked by a variety of privately coordinated fairs from a variety of groups, ranging from abc – art berlin contemporary to major institutions like the Akademie der Künste. In addition to fairs, Berlin Art Week features shows at hundreds of galleries.
Preview Berlin Directors // Photograph by Susann Zielinski & Tim Adler for Berlin Art Link (2011)
With morphing perspectives on methods in which art is presented in urban life, Berlin Art Week is attempting to fuel such necessary discussions. The coordinators of this weeklong event urge visitors to reconsider the ways in which a city can be a platform for art and artists – how has Berlin evolved as a mecca of contemporary art, and how can it further advance? Shows, exhibitions, and fairs will allow ample space for Berliners to appreciate and ponder the state of the city’s current art scene.
Art Fairs
Art Berlin Contemporary
Exhibition: Sept. 13–16, 2012
Opening Reception and BBQ: Thursday, Sep. 13; 6–9pm
artberlincontemporary.com
Station-Berlin Luckenwalder Straße 4—6, Berlin
Art Berlin Contemporary, a hybrid of curated exhibition and art fair, will host over 150 artists’ works this year, as well as 30 creative organizations from around the world. Additionally, abc has invited New York’s “Artists Space” to coordinate two “interventions,” as well as a lecture series.
Preview Berlin
Exhibition: Sept. 13–16, 2012
Opening Reception: Thursday, Sept. 13; 6–10pm
Airport Berlin Tempelhof, Hangar2, Columbiadamm 10, Berlin
In its eigth year, the Preview Berlin Art Fair will return for Berlin Art Week. The fair, hosted in Hangar2 of the former Templehof Airport, both Berlin-based and internationally renonwed galleries will present a variety of works, specializing in exciting emerging artists. Thus, the newest trends and artists in the world will be on display.
Berliner Liste
Exhibition: Sept. 13–16, 2012
Opening Reception: Wednesday, Sept. 12; 6pm
MUMA, Kraftwerk Berlin, Köpenicker Straße 70, Berlin
The Berliner Liste fair will be presenting over 120 galleries, projects and artists, exhibiting their latest and greatest works in central Berlin. In coordination with the Berlin Art Week, the fair underlines Berlin’s status as the home of a significant art culture internationally.
Stroke Urban Art Fair
Exhibition: Sept. 13–16, 2012
Opening Reception: Thursday, Sept. 13; 7–12pm
Postbahnhof, Straße der Pariser Kommune 8, Berlin
Focusing on the unprecedented rapidity of contemporary urbanization, the Urban Art Fair focuses on the manifestations of such a significant trend. With this revolution of lifestyle, contemporary culture has been overturned– cities have engendered new forms of expression. The fair promises exciting new interpretations of classist notions of art, and furthermore, gallery-buyer relationships.
Momentum Directors: Cassandra Bird and Rachel Rits-Volloch; Photo by Anthony Georgis for Berlin Art Link (2012)
Highlights: Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012
Sublim Kursiv by AJLart at Epicentro Art
Exhibition: Sept. 12–Oct. 9, 2012
Opening Reception: Sept. 12, 2012; 6–10pm
Karl-Marx-Allee 82–84, Berlin
On Wednesday, AJLart has selected the Epicentro Art Space on Karl-Marx-Allee to exhibit a variety of works by prominent artists. The show, “sublim kursiv” promises to be one of the highlights of the week and features works by: Christian Boltanski, James Lee Byars, Gianni Caravaggio, Douglas Gordon, Markus Keibel, Imi Knoebel, Robert Montgomery, Christine Rusche, Junior Toscanello, Björn Wallbaum, and Ralf Ziervogel. It promises to be an overwhelmingly significant collection of works.
Cyprien Gaillard at Schinkel Pavilion
Exhibition: Sept. 15–Oct. 21, 2012
Opening Reception: Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012; performance at 8pm
schinkelpavillon.de
Schinkel Pavillon, Oberwallstraße 1, Berlin
An anomaly in the contemporary art scene, Frenchman Cyprien Gaillard was awarded the Preis der Nationalgalerie für junge Kunst for his work “Artefacts,” a film that studied the story of Babylon through the lens of the current war in Iraq. On Wednesday night, he will perform his work “What It Does To Your City” at the Schinkel Pavillon.
Momentum at Berlinische Galerie
Talk: Sept. 12, 2012; 7pm
Museum Cafe at Berlinische Galerie
Admission free; Talk is in English
berlinischegalerie.de
Alte Jakobstraße 124, Berlin
Thomas Eller will speak to Cassandra Bird and Rachel Rits-Volloch from Momentum Berlin at the Berlinische Gallery. Momentum, which was created in Sydney in 2010, and secondly, in Berlin in 2011, is a self-described “global platform for time-based art.” It invites artists and galleries to exhibit in Berlin, creating an international network. The scheduled talk is part of a series by the Berlinische Gallery entitled “Demonstrate!” which invites participants to discuss practices, concepts, and projects in art.
Johann König at St. Agnes
Week Events: Sept. 11–16, 2012
Opening Party: Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012; Panel discussion (in German): 11am–12pm; Open House: 12–8pm; Times Bar & Grill Party with Your Body und DJ Sweat: 8pm on
A week-long (Sept. 11–16) opening celebration for Johann König’s new space at St. Agnes Church will go on through the week (Sept. 11–16). Highlights over the week include dj’s every night, talks and the ABC opening after party.
Artist Night at King Size Bar
Party: Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012; 10pm–6am
Friedrichstraße 112b, Berlin
Alex Duve and Alex Levy will be hosting King Sizes’ notorious Artist Night on Tuesday. The program, initiated by Martin Kwade, is an ongoing staple for Mitte’s creative’s nightlife. Each week, Kwade commissions a different artist to create artworks saying “Artist’s Night, 2,50 Euro Beer” for the event.
Highlights: Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012
BAL’s Night & Day Series: Eva Maria Salvador & John Kleckner
Exhibition: Sunday, Sept 16, 12–5pm
Opening Reception: Saturday, Sept. 15, 7–11pm
Sur la Montagne Project Space, Torstrasse 170, Berlin
Afterparty: KiM Bar, Brunnenstrasse 10, Berlin; from 11pm on
Berlin Art Link will be hosting their third exhibition in our Night & Day Series, presenting pieces by Swiss artist Eva Maria Salvador and American artist John Kleckner. The show, which will take place in Mitte’s Sur la Montagne project space, will feature Salvador’s photographed head sculptures, juxtaposed with Kleckner’s drawings and collages. The pieces work in conjunction with each other to explore the theme of historical European military helmets.
re:MMX by Co Verlag
Exhibition: Sept. 15, 2012; 2–10pm & Sept. 16, 2012; 2–8pm
Linienstraße 142, Berlin
Co Verlag is launching re:MMX, an exhibition that will be held over two days. The exhibition will feature a new sound sculpture installation, panoramic video works, photography, painting and the return of the Circadian Light room. On view is the never before seen art project “The Cave” plus the unveiling of the public Video Box in the garden and a large scale mural. The Video Box program is open daily 5-11pm with videos changing weekly.
