Tag Archives: Berlin

Berlin: Barbara Kruger ‘Forever’

December 10, 2017 butterfly

US artist Barbara Kruger, who initially inspired the logo for Supreme, has created an immersive installation called ‘Forever’ for the Berlin gallery Sprüth Magers. This exhibition marks exactly three decades since her first solo show at Monika Sprüth Gallery in Cologne.

The new site-specific work occupies all four walls and the floor of the gallery’s main exhibition space, with immersive room-wraps and several new vinyl works. Their boldly designed textual statements on the nature of truth, power, belief and doubt embody the distinctive visual language that Kruger has developed over the course of her forty-year career.

Since the late 1970s, Kruger has established herself as one of the most influential figures in contemporary art. Beginning with her earliest works, for which she combined language with mass media imagery culled from books and magazines, she has turned a critical eye toward consumerism, desire, political will, and the often-hidden mechanisms of power operating within contemporary society. In the mid-1990s, Kruger produced her first multichannel video works and room-wrappings, tapping into a long-standing interest in architecture and expanding the scale of her installations to envelop viewers in disorienting, but thought-provoking, environments. Her exhibition in Berlin extends these investigations, which are as timely as ever in a moment pervaded by pseudo-facts and alternative realities.

With ‘Forever’ Barbara Kruger takes a critical look at technology and humanity through her “bold textual statements about the nature of truth, power, belief, and doubt.” The exhibition transports viewers to contemplate iconic words typed in monochrome boxes and their connotations in relation to the wallpaper of the smartphone.

View the full set of pics here

Barbara Kruger – “Forever”
Until 22 December 2017
Sprüth Magers
Oranienburger Strasse 18
Berlin

Berlin, Shows

Berlin : Tavar Zawacki – Metamorphosis

September 27, 2017 butterfly 1 Comment

Urban Spree Galerie in Berlin is currently showing a solo exhibition by visual artist Tavar Zawacki. entitled “Metamorphosis”, featuring twelve large format works on canvas with his signature hard edge painting style.

Tavar Zawacki (b. 1981), is a Californian born, Berlin-based contemporary artist. Tavar Zawacki under his then street name, ABOVE, has proliferated his artworks in over 100 cities spanning 50 countries around the world with his arrow icon and geometric patterns. He’s been a resident at Urban Spree for the past two years and this show marks a change of direction.

“The intention for the Metamorphosis exhibition was to transition into newer areas of my creativity with a fearless attitude. The past year I decided to slow down, and focus my attention inwards. My priority was to observe previous styles of artworks I had painted, and take them to a higher, more refined level. During this introspective period I was surprised to find that I had many barriers in my creativity that blocked my true visual style from being seen. It was disturbing for me to realize that I’ve been very fearful, and self conscious with my creative process. Metamorphosis is about transformation from one state into a newer dynamic one. With a lot of brutal honesty, and conviction for growth I was able to take inner inventory of what no longer served me. I was able to let go of the fears that were stifling my creative progression. I was prepared for feeling uncomfortable during this metamorphosis. I was learning how to unblock my personal censors, and be valiant in painting the styles of works I’ve previously been too reluctant to paint.

The Metamorphosis exhibition focuses on four different, and distinct styles of painting. Each painting style has it’s own unique personality. As a collective whole these twelve works on canvas best encompass my current interests of painting styles in my career. The restricted black and white designs display my attraction in sharp contrasting Op-Art visual effects. On the contrary, the CMYK designs are full of color achieved from overlapping secondary and tertiary shapes. The painting style of trompe l’oeil has been a highlight of mine during this creative process. The manipulation of shadows, and illusion of depth added a nice dimensional element to Metamorphosis body of work. The fourth, and final painting style examines the relationship between both straight, and curved lines. The intention for this style was to have a balance within each of these defined compositions.
During the designing process of this exhibition I had achieved my goals of stepping out of my creative comfort zone, while pushing forward in these aforementioned styles of my creative interest. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the show.”

Many artists joined the awaited opening with Nick Walker, curator Rolland Henry from VNA magazine, Skewville, Borondo and more.

Tavar Zawacki – Metamorphosis
Until 8 October 2017
Urban Spree Galerie
Revaler Str. 99
10245 Berlin

Berlin

Berlin: Urban Nation Museum for Urban Contemporary Art

May 24, 2016 butterfly

MARKUS TERBOVEN (GEWOBAG), THOMAS WILLEMEIT (GRAFT), YASHA YOUNG (URBAN NATION), TIM RENNER (UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR CULTURAL AFFAIRS) HENDRIK JELLEMA (BERLINER LEBEN) (Small)

Director Yasha Young has officially revealed the start of building work on the future URBAN NATION MUSEUM FOR URBAN CONTEMPORARY ART, a project that will enrich both Berlin’s diverse cultural landscape and the international art scene. In the coming months, a globally unique new centre for exhibitions, research and exchange focussed on one of the most important art forms of the 21st century will emerge.

Berlin’s secretary for cultural affairs, Tim Renner, was on hand to congratulate the initiators of this ambitious plan on behalf of the city government.

Since 2013 URBAN NATION has been working on building the first independent and non-commercial home for urban contemporary art. With more than 200 artists, URBAN NATION is already turning Berlin into a huge outdoor Museum ( Check our previous coverage of projects M).

In mid 2017 the vision is finally getting reality. The URBAN NATION MUSEUM FOR URBAN CONTEMPORARY ART will offer an independent room for debates, research, interdisciplinary projects and creative exchanges.

Based on the motto “Connect. Create. Care.”, the museum, directed by Yasha Young and co-funded by the LOTTO-Stiftung Berlin (LOTTO Foundation) in Bülowstrasse 7 Berlin-Schöneberg, will host the growing and already unique URBAN NATION collection at the venue. Furthermore, the museum will be home to the unique book collection of legendary photo-journalist Martha Cooper: her pictures document the creation and development of urban art over the last decades, right up to today.

TIM RENNER (UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR CULTURAL AFFAIRS), MARKUS TERBOVEN(GEWOBAG),YASHA YOUNG(URBAN NATION) THOMAS WILLEMEIT(GRAFT), HENDRIK JELLEMA (BERLINER LEBEN) (Small)

Tim Renner, secretary for culture of the city of Berlin, Markus Terboven, board member of Gewobag, Yasha Young, Director URBAN NATION, Thomas Willemeit, Founding Partner GRAFT, Hendrik Jellema, chairman of the board of “Berliner Leben”. (left to right) © URBAN NATION

Check out a virtual visit of the upcoming URBAN NATION MUSEUM FOR URBAN CONTEMPORARY ART

Berlin, Shows, streets

Berlin: Urban Nation PM/7 – Part 2

March 22, 2015 butterfly

Urban Nation PM7

In parallel to the windows and facade they decorated with their Persons of Interest (see here) 12 Brooklyn based artists were given carte blanche to decorate the walls of the Urban Nation Haus for a pop up show in Berlin, where nothing was for sale. Each of the participating artist including Icy & Sot, Don Rimx, Case, Specter, Swoon, NohJColey, Dain, Chris Stain, El Sol 25, Esteban Del Valle and Gaia used their own tools and techniques to create a colourful and ephemeral display directly onto the walls.

Here are some behind the scenes shots:

Large crowds attended the opening to celebrate the links between New York and Berlin. Amongst the guests was Gaia‘s Persons of Interest Fereshta Ludin discussing with curators Jaime Rojo and Steven P. Harrington

Urban Nation PM7

Many international artists and friends also joined in to show their support: David Walker (UK), Strøk (NO), REKA (AUS), Herakut (DE), MACCLAIM (DE), Vermibus (DE), Mark Rigney (UK), Aida Bragstarr (UK), Onur Dinc (CH), NeverCrew (CH), DotDotDot (NO), Schwarzmaler (CH) and Andreas Englund (SE).

Urban Nation PM7

View the full set of pics here and full coverage on Street Art News

Persons of Interest PM/7
URBAN NATION
Bülowstraße 97
10738 Berlin-Schöneberg, Germany

http://www.urban-nation.net

Berlin, Shows, streets

Berlin: Persons of Interest @ Urban Nation PM/7 – Part 1

March 19, 2015 butterfly 3 Comments

BSA is in Berlin this month to present a new show of 12 important Brooklyn Street Artists at the Urban Nation haus as part of Project M/7. PERSONS OF INTEREST brings to Berlin a diverse collection of artists who use many mediums and styles in the street art scene of Brooklyn. By way of tribute to the special relationship that artist communities in both cities have shared for decades, each artist has chosen to create a portrait of a Germany-based cultural influencer from the past or present, highlighting someone who has played a role in inspiring the artist in a meaningful way.

The four storey facade of the Urban Nation building has been painted by Icy & Sot, featuring a female portrait with the words FREEDOM. Looking closer it shows the population celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Puerto Rican born Don Rimx opted for the German civil engineer John A. Roebling, who designed the Brooklyn Bridge in the late 1800’s. Muralist artist Gaia has chosen Afghanistan-born German Muslim school teacher Fereshta Ludin who won the right to wear her headscarf in the public school system 12 years ago. Inspired by mid-century Hollywood actresses, street artist Dain decided to illustrate the infamous German actress Marlene Dietrich.

Urban Nation PM7 - Gaia

Celebrating urban diversity, Swoon decided to illustrate Turkish Immigrants, the largest ethnic minority in Germany.

Known for depicting the struggles and hopes of the working class in the US, stencil artist Chris Stain has picked German-born American poet, novelist, and short story writer Charles Bukowki as his Person of Interest.

Street artist Cake‘s wheat pasted paintings are paying tribute to German artist Käthe Kollwitz, whose works depict both aspects of life from the suffering to the truly happy sides.

Multi-disciplinary artist Specter is featuring a Brooklyn based and German born photographer Sally Montana, symbol of the connexion between Berlin and NY.

Artist NohJColey has decided to pay tribute to Afro-German feminist writer and activist Katharina Oguntoye, because of her contribution to the woman’s equality movement in Germany.

Urban Nation PM7 - NohJColey

Brooklyn based collage artist El Sol 25 is paying tribute to Hannah Höch, a Berlin rebel and one of the most important collage artists of the 20^th Century, innovator in the original Dada movement. Activist Esteban Del Valle picked George Grosz , known for his corrosive caricatures during Berlin roaring 1920’s. Del Valle revisited Grosz’ own 1926 painting, Eclipse of the Sun, with a contemporary twist.

Urban Nation PM7 - El Sol 25 Urban Nation PM7 - Esteban Del Valle Urban Nation PM7 - Onur

In parallel to the Brooklyn based artists, Onur Dinc (CH), NeverCrew (CH), DotDotDot (NO), Schwarzmaler (CH) and Andreas Englund (SE) completed new murals around the Urban Nation Building.

Urban Nation PM7 - Onur Dinc Urban Nation PM7 - Andreas Englund