The Arts amd Exhibitions of Berlin

Berlin Bear

Berlin ~ a city of reinvention!  I traveled to Berlin last week and hoped to get a sense of history and culture.  What I experienced was even more-a dynamic, friendly city in the midst of creative growth.

It has been almost twenty years since the fall of the wall but in touring I became familiar with the effects the Cold War.  I saw the classic historic must-sees like the Brandenburg Gate which they say everyone has to walk through for "good luck", the wall which still stands in two sections with one known as the East Side Gallery painted by artists and the other surrounded by a fence to protect it from scavengers, and the famous bunkers and more.  All extraordinary and told by my guide who lived through much of Berlin's troublesome past.

Artist, K.O.Gotz

 Photo by Artist Cindy Sherman
(Note the viewer in the foreground)

Once I got my barrings and a latte (it was freezing!), I needed some uplifting inspiration~ off to museums and the gallery district!  First stop, the New National Gallery built at the edge of West Berlin in the 50's after most of the once-unified city's cultural assets had been lost behind the Berlin wall.  The innovative modernist building reminded me of the East Wing of our National Gallery.

The current exhibition is by K.O. Gotz who is known as the master of abstract gestural paintings.  His 1950's energetic works are a riot of colors, fluid and huge.  He perfected and refined his "squeegie" technique over many years.  There were also recognizable works by Kandinsky, Barnett Newman and contemporary artist Cindy Sherman among so many others.
 

By Artist, Donald Kuspit

One work of art that still captivates me is by artist Donald Kuspit called Rebecca Horn.  It consists of two glass funnels, ink, wine and motors that spray the liquids on the wall in random fashion.  The design is purely machine driven with sporadic and intermittent motion.  Once the liquids are gone, the museum repaints the wall, refills the vials and it begins again.  It has been there since 1991.

From here I went to the central district of Mitte.  This section is known for the multitude of upscale and funky galleries, restaurants and coffee houses.  The galleries included everything from old masters to young talents in a variety of mediums with much of it photography.  Of all my stops, certain artists stood out for technique or arresting imagery.  Edgy digital paintings and cut outs by Karl-Heinrich Frauns and a paintings series called "Reconstructing Histories" by Melora Kuhn.

Christian Tagliavini

For me, the stand out exhibition had to be "Carte" by Christian Tagliavini.  The artist created eleven cards with influences of visual patterns from cubism, art nouveau, Italian folk art or mythology. His technique, detail and execution is superb and precise in creating 3-D like portraits using photography, handmade costumes of paper and cardboard.  All in this exhibition had sold -$30k each.  On his website you can see greater detail of his striking art and he has an open casting call for faces for future art projects...who knows, you have just the right look!  

Frau Tonis Parfum Boutique

All this inspiration and energy made me want to create something.  Lucky for me I came upon a beautiful little shop  where I could create my very own original perfume! The aroma expert guided me through the selection process by introducing forty-six different scents.  I then had to eliminate and narrow my favorites to three.  Through her magic came my unique formula and distinct scent!  To reorder, I just give my recipe.

Fabulous trip, now back to the studio!