artspleen: Berlin Art Week 2023: A Tale of Brilliance, Exclusivity, and Paradoxes

Installation views at Isa Genzken, 75/75, at neue Nationalgalerie

I took a break from writing my next book to enjoy the chaos of Berlin Art Week, which was a fun break from my usual schedule. Contrary to what you might think, I didn't go into the galleries, even though they had interesting shows and events going on all weekend. 😀

Berlin Art Week was like a rush of artistic events, sometimes out of sync and spread over large areas. It seemed like it was fine-tuned to appeal to a small group of people. It helped young hipster artists get noticed, but other people got lost in the jumbled landscape.

In the middle of all this chaos, the Neue Nationalgalerie stood out as a lighthouse by the amazing show by Iza Genzken called "75/75." 😍

The director of the Neue Nationalgalerie, Klaus Biesenbach, and the elegant touch of Lisa Botti made this show a true spectacle. In addition to Genzken's works, it showed off the exquisiteness of the museum's collection and the spirit of Mies van der Rohe' s building itself.

The Neue Nationalgalerie also served as the center of a number of events. "Baumschule Kulturforum," which was put on by BAW Garten, turned the stark concrete of Kulturforum into a green haven. Under the artistic direction of Klaus Biesenbach and the landscape design company atelier le balto, this gardening project made a city dream come true. It was a plan like what the planner Hans Scharoun had for Berlin. During Berlin Art Week, more than 50 trees that lose their leaves were placed on the front of the Neue Nationalgalerie. This showed a taste of a better future both outside and inside the building. 🌳🍍🍌🍎

Chef and food artist Caique Tizzi made Berlin Art Week even more tasty. His "food intervention" was a trip through fruit that was inspired by the building of the Neue Nationalgalerie. "Edible Landscapes" were fruit trees around the Museum like a defense wall, but only they were welcoming the visitors.

The 'Motus' project by Adrien Missika was a small gallery on a modified bike with a small carbon footprint. Artists like Jeewi Lee, Saadane Afif, and Kasia Fudakowski showed their work with it.

During Berlin Art Week, 'Videoart at Midnight' by Olaf Stüber found a new home at BAW Garten. It was like going to the movies outside, with pictures by artists like Yalda Afsah, Bani Abidi, and Annika Kahrs that looked at important problems of our time.

Also there were talks and performances.

The famous "Cut Piece" performance by Yoko Ono was done every day inside the glass cube at Neue Nationalgalerie, which reflected themes of power and weakness. Also on shows, the hyped performer Goksu Kunak's "Venus," an art piece based on the idea of a car, looked at complicated problems.

Finally party,party,party. In fact, BAW Garten is known around the world for its wide range of music and DJ sets with good vibes, ambient sounds, and deep pop.

Still, it's important to note that events like these may unintentionally create an air of elitism by catering to a certain group, which could make other people feel left out. This obstacle was further complicated by the vast distances that separated the various locations, which highlights the fact that Berlin Art Week is primarily geared toward an exclusive clientele. 🤔

On a more positive note, "UNBOUND: PERFORMANCE AS RUPTURE," a show at the Julia Stoschek Foundation, was a personal highlight for me. With the help of Line Ajan, Lisa Long carefully put together a some of the most incredible performance artists on the field. Some of these innovative makers were well-known people like Panteha Abareshi, Eleanor Antin, Salim Bayri, Nao Bustamante, and many more. Together, their works explored the idea of performance as a way to shake things up by openly questioning established norms.

Also, Eva Fábregas's "Devouring Lovers" show at Hamburger Bahnhof, which was put together by Anna-Cathrins Gebbers, gave an interesting look at contemporary art, that embgace an aesthetical cannibalistic point of view. Are all of us going to be consumed and devoured by a system that is gluttonous and overweight?

In conclusion, Berlin Art Week showed both the good and bad sides of the city's contemporary art scene. Even though some events were brilliant and intellectually deep, the overall experience could have been strange for people who weren't in the event's intended audience. As we think back on this crazy week, it's clear that Berlin's art scene is in a state of flux, evolving slowly, hard to include new voices and ignoring others in its quest for change.

And, since we're talking about paradoxes in the art world, Fotografiska Berlin had one of its own. This gallery chain spaces, which also has locations in Stockholm and New York, is known in the art world as a mecca for neoliberal sprint. However, it launched its headquarters in Berlin with an exhibition by the usually critical Candice Breitz, bringing attention to the inconsistencies that exist in the art scene.😁💥🙊

In addition to this contradiction, Fotografiska wants to be more than just an art show. For a certain fee, it wants to be a gourmet diner, a night club, and a hub. In a city known for its avant-garde approach to the arts, paradoxes are as important as bread to the artistic experience. I have no doubt that Fotografiska will prepare a three-star meal for us in the very, very near future 👀😘.

Even though Berlin Art Week is a whirlwind, let's not forget the ironies that remain under the surface as we enjoy the show and grandeur.

While we love the art, it's important to remember the heated debates of the past year, especially about how museums work and how public money is spent, which often implies taking advantage of women's postition in the system. It's disappointing to see that little has changed behind the shiny surface. Even though they have made mistakes and been criticized in the past, the same people keep doing what they are doing.

They try to throw a lot of people, artists, and places into a big pot and think that's what makes the magic happen. But nothing magical happens. The harder they try the worst and messy it looks.

This steadfastness, which is often confused for strength, has made it hard for people to grow and change.

We must remember that magic cannot be recreated any time we want. It works best when it is made in the moment by unique people in unique situations. Perhaps it's time to embrace change not only as a challenge but as an opportunity, allowing new voices and perspectives to flourish.

The week was full of these different events, each of which showed a different side of the art world. It was a time for me exploring, talking, and thinking, all set against the lively art scene in Berlin. As I work on my book again, I will remember this special week. It was a break from the usual and gave me new ideas and ways of looking at things.

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