The Next Day #16: Berlin Art Week 2023
Hi,
There are so many highlights during Berlin Art Week that we decided to create a special guide feature just for the event. And, of course, we've invited someone knowledgeable about the subject to assist us in this mission. Tamara Ganem, a friend from São Paulo currently based in Berlin, is one of the people I turn to whenever I want exhibition recommendations. She invariably directs me to the trendiest places, always with pleasant surprises.
See you around!
Lalai
Berlin Art Week 2023 Guide
Annually, over the course of 5 days, Berlin Art Week presents a diverse festival program of contemporary art in collaboration with major Berlin art institutions. These are Tamara's highlights for the Berlin Art Week, which starts this Wednesday.
Every year, the Berlin Art Week picks a new festival venue. This year, they picked the Neue Nationalgalerie. It hosts a vibrant performance festival featuring renowned artists like Yoko Ono and Göksu Kunak. I highly recommend catching Yoko Ono's "Cut Piece" performed by Berlin-based artists.
One event I cherish monthly is Videoart at Midnight, held at the iconic Kino Babylon. Due to Art Week, they're taking it outdoors for the first time. You can expect a captivating lineup of video art pieces over four evenings in the BAW Garten at Neue Nationalgalerie.
A must-see exhibition is Coco Fusco's retrospective at KW titled "Tomorrow, I Will Become an Island." It's Germany's first major showcase of this Cuban-American artist's work. It covers diverse artworks from the 1990s to today, spanning themes like racial representation and feminism.
Speaking of exhibitions, mark your calendar for ChertLüdde Gallery's 15th anniversary celebration. Their collective exhibition "My Demons My Angels" features an impressive lineup of 27 artists, including Gabriel Chaile, Zora Mann, and Sol Calero.
To see Brazilian art, I recommend immersing yourself in the first-ever institutional solo exhibition of the artist Jota Mombaça in Germany. The Natal-born artist, writer, and performer's practice emerges from their long-standing engagement with colonial modernity and the apocalyptic ruptures. The exhibition at CCA Berlin—Center for Contemporary Arts - showcases Mombaça's ongoing research through the presentation of a newly-commissioned video, ceramic and textile-based pieces, and drawings.
The Julia Stoschek Foundation is hosting a captivating group exhibition titled "UNBOUND: PERFORMANCE AS RUPTURE," showcasing the work of 36 artists. It explores the fascinating intersections of performance and video art from the late 1960s to the present.
If you are a photography enthusiast, don't miss the newly opened Berlin Fotografiska and its special Art Week program. While tickets are sold out for the opening, you might still find a way in if you're willing to get in line at the front entrance.
The Positions Berlin Art Fair is worth visiting if you want to explore the art market. It features an interesting lineup of 100 galleries from 20 countries, offering a diverse array of artworks on sale.
Finally, consider visiting the renowned Boros Collection housed in a former bunker on the closing day of Berlin Art Week. They're currently hosting an exhibition featuring works by 27 artists, and you can grab discounted tickets at the entrance. Alternatively, for a more intimate experience, check out the opening of the intriguing Sammlung Ivo Wessel, featuring a mix of audio, digital, conceptual, and video art."
About Tamara Ganem:
Tamara Ganem is a director, producer, and artist who has been active in the art market for over ten years. She has produced and participated in numerous exhibitions in Brazil. She completed her postgraduate studies in art in São Paulo, focusing her research on contemporary art. She was most recently the general director at Kura Arte, overseeing all company areas as it helped leading artists, curators, and collections. She moved to Berlin a year ago, where she connects the city, Europe, and Brazil's art scenes.
Muito obrigado pelo guia. Apesar de não estar em Berlim, posso viajar virtualmente.