Berlin has been something of an art mecca in recent years, with artists flocking to the city to make use of cheap space and a vibrant culture while international galleries jostle to establish a presence in the German capital. This week the scene kicks into overdrive with the opening of a new contemporary art gallery, three major retrospectives -- and no less than five trade fairs.
So far Berlin has lacked a decent-sized gallery to host art created in the city. The Hamburger Bahnhof -- a former train station converted to a modern art showcase -- offers some space to new artists, but it's mostly home to big names of post-war art such as Andy Warhol and Joseph Beuys. Both are currently the focus of major retrospectives at the museum.
On Wednesday, however, a brand new gallery for contemporary art will open in Berlin. The 600-square-meter blue and white cube designed by Adolf Krischanitz couldn't be more central. It occupies part of the former site of the city's Hohenzollern Palace, which was then home to the almost-dismantled Palast der Republik, the former East German parliament which after the fall of communism served as an art space and a theater.
But the cube will not be a permanent gallery. The "Temporäre Kunsthalle Berlin" (Temporary Art Hall Berlin) will grace the historic Schlossplatz for just two years -- until it needs to make room for a rebuilt Hohenzollern Palace.
'The Cult of the Artist'
On Wednesday evening Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit will launch the Kunsthalle's opening exhibition by Candice Breitz, an artist born in South Africa but resident in Berlin. Her show kicks off with three video installations that present fans of big stars on giant screens re-performing entire albums -- "Working Class Hero" is on John Lennon, "Queen," on Madonna, and "King" on Michael Jackson. The works, which deal with individuality, identity and pop culture, were not specifically created for the gallery and have already been shown in Milan, Hanover and London. However, next month a brand new show by Breitz on Jack Nicholson, entitled simply "Him," will premier at the gallery. The work will show the Hollywood actor in 23 of his roles spanning his 40-year career.
But the new space is just a drop in the ocean of the Berlin art world. The city is also hosting an ambitious cycle of 10 exhibitions dealing with the "Cult of the Artist" over the coming months. Following the monumental Beuys and Warhol shows at the Hamburger Bahnhof -- which opened at the start of October -- this week unveils exhibitions devoted to pop art darling Jeff Koons, modernist master Paul Klee and the Italian sculptor Alberto Giacometti. There is also a major show devoted to the late American photographer Richard Avedon at Berlin's Martin Gropius Bau.
The city is also awash with private galleries, which will try to woo collectors and art lovers this week at a total of five different trade fairs.
The Art Forum Berlin, an international fair for contemporary art, kicks off Thursday with over 120 exhibitors from 26 countries. There is also the Kunstsalon (Art Salon) at a former electricity station in the trendy Prenzlauer Berg district. The red brick building will offer space for around 50 different galleries. Another 57 galleries will avail of space at the historic Tempelhof Airport, which is set to close for business (as an airport) this week.
Meanwhile the Berliner Liste is hosting 80 galleries at a former luxury hotel on the Kurfürstendamm shopping strip, and the Bridge Art Fair, which also organizes shows in Miami and New York, will show works from 30 galleries in an apartment complex in the central Mitte district.
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