I'm filling in for our Arts Editor, Emer, this time for the April Art Round Up. Are you feeling all springy? Hope so, because there's loads of art to see in this season of hope, optimisim and baby lambs. It's time to get out of that armchair and say hello world! I've kind of cheated a little and I've included a show here that opens on May 1st, but that's just because I'm overflowing with kindness today and I don't want you to miss out on seeing this super show (last listing, clue in the title picture). Below are my Top Five, get-up and get-out shows from April's arts scene in Berlin.
1) LEGO BRICKS MEET URBAN ART - systM gallery bar presents: A new interpretation of urban street art; juxtaposing LEGO and the skills of well known graffiti artists from Berlin's scene, using a mixture of synthetic stones in bright colors and distinctive graffiti lettering. Artists showing include: Cole Blaq, Orion Pax, paint color, Acid79, Chill, Baks, Diablo, Pley, Riko and THESIGN. This all kicks off on 30th April at 19.00, Torstraße 68.
2) TOWER OF ART - This is my top pick of all April's art showers: TURMKUNST 2010, THROW UP #3 ’THE STYLE’. Berlin's Bierpinsel (Beer brush) building, in Steglitz, is set to be transformed by 13 artists, who will be painting the OUTSIDE of the futuristic tower to transform it into street art cool with 2000 litres of paint; whilst the subway station Schloßstr will be subject to live graffiti art action by local street artists. It's called 'Going Underground - Street-Art Live Painting' - It opens on 10 April at 19.00 with a Block Party and there will be merry times with drinks, music and a live action photo shoot by Manuel Cortez. The art tower project begins 1 April.
3)Lucas Carrieri Art Gallery present: He Junyan from China 'Things Alive', and Herr Müller from Berlin 'I would prefer not to,' along with a collection from several other artists including; Sergio Sundblad, Emily Putter, Leonor Rigau, Mode2, José de León, Pedro Castrortega, Tania Selzer, Pabi, Alexey Kiselev, Dora Tass, Ebon Heath, Jose Rosario Godoy, Sabine Wenzel and Rolf Biebl. The show opens on 8th April at 7pm with a Chinese buffet and a tasty beverage to help you digest all that lecker art!
4) ARNDT Gallery at Potsdamer Strasse 96 re-opens to the public after renovation, with their Gallery Weekend Berlin on 30 April 2010 17.00 until 22.00. The Opening Exhibition Changing The World brings together new works by invited artists and guests. Artist list: Erik Bulatov, Sophie Calle, William Cordova, Wim Delvoye, Anton Henning, Thomas Hirschhorn, Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, Jitish Kallat Jon Kessler, Karsten Konrad, Julije Knifer, Enrique Martinez Celaya, Josephine Meckseper, Vik Muniz, Muntean Rosenblum, Julian Rosenfeldt Charles Sandison Dennis Scholl, Nedko Solakov, Hiroshi Sugito, Ena Swansea, Mathilde Ter Heijne, Keith Tyson and Ralf Ziervogel. This runs until 2/5/2010.
5) Round April off nicely with two of my favourite artists who are coming to Berlin, together! Haunch of Venison Berlin, Heidestraße, (near Hamburger Bahnhof) presents British artist Damien Hirst and American artist Michael Joo, 'Have you ever really looked into the sun?' The show opens on 1 May and continues right up until 14 August 2010. 'Have You Ever Really Looked at the Sun?' Is a first time collaboration between the two artists, who met in Cologne in 1991 and have remained close friends since that time. The show will feature new, especially conceived sculptures and installations, as well as seminal paintings and sculptures from Joo and Hirst.
This finishes our April Art Showers! If you've got any comment or tips, or would like your show listed for May (and onward) please contact us via email or leave a comment below and we'll be happy to consider your choice/show. Emer should be back for May so it's time for me to say Ciao and enjoy!
