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After the spectacular results of past years, the 11th Art Forum Berlin, the International Fair for Contemporary Art, again sets high standards. A by far wider range of international attendance and a fresher program than last year both represent the consistent renewal of Art Forum Berlin. Consequently, in its selection of a clear and compact group of participants, Art Forum Berlin provides a precise insight into the current, international contemporary art scene. One hundred and twenty galleries from 22 countries present stars and newcomers in exciting new constellations with both discoveries and enhancements. |
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Art Forum Berlin 2006—More International and Younger
After the spectacular results of past years, the 11th Art Forum Berlin, the International Fair for Contemporary Art, again sets high standards. A by far wider range of international attendance and a fresher program than last year both represent the consistent renewal of Art Forum Berlin. Consequently, in its selection of a clear and compact group of participants, Art Forum Berlin provides a precise insight into the current, international contemporary art scene. One hundred and twenty galleries from 22 countries present stars and newcomers in exciting new constellations with both discoveries and enhancements.
The Jury
The annually rotating admissions committee for 2006 has made its choice out of a record number of applicants. For the participation in the 11th Art Forum Berlin, 120 galleries from Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America were selected.
The Exhibitors—Some Figures
At the 11th Art Forum Berlin, 29 galleries from the city will be represented, which comes to a 24 percent proportion of local exhibitors. More than a half (56 percent), on the other hand, are international exhibitors. Among the foreign galleries, the USA represents the highest contribution with 11 percent. First-time participants make up 25 percent of the exhibitors whereas a full 75 percent are returnees. In other figures, 91 galleries have exhibited repeatedly at Art Forum Berlin, whereas 30 are represented in Berlin for the first time. Freestyle Stands, which are reserved for projects with up to three artists, were chosen by 20 galleries. Eleven of these galleries are new participants. Similarly, 11 joint stands of, all in all, 25 galleries promise exciting encounters and unexpected constellations.
Trends—Surprises—Discoveries
Painting is still booming; top prices are being fetched at trade fairs and auctions alike. But, the next trend is emerging ever more clearly; sculptures in all formats. More participants are showing in joint stands than in previous years and those stands designed by artists dominate the appearance of Art Forum Berlin. A short, first glimpse alone gives one a sense of the offerings for 2006 in terms of its sculpture, painting, photography, installations, video and new media work contributed by seasoned galleries, first-time participants and returnees. Plus, there are all those concepts in the freestyle and joint stands to look forward to.
Always New
Helga de Alvear, Madrid, is arriving at the fair with new works by Jan de Cock, Alicia Framis and several artists living in Berlin; Karin Sander and Elmgreen & Dragset. The art of Mikael Andersen from Copenhagen reflects the ever-evolving theme of landscape within a group presentation. Arndt & Partner, Berlin, show Florian Baudrexel in a solo presentation. The expansive reliefs typical of his work will send an exciting signal. Nicole Hackert and Bruno Brunnet (Contemporary Fine Art, Berlin) are similarly displaying a cross-section of their internationally renowned program. As an example of a noteworthy new orientation at Eigen + Art, Leipzig/Berlin, Gerd Harry Lybke will be presenting a stand devoted solely to the sculpture of his artists Olaf Nicolai, Yehudit Sasportas, Stella Hamberg, Rémy Markowitsch and more.
Frank Elbaz, Paris, is setting fresh accents with his mostly French program, while Frehrking Wiesehöfer, Cologne, offers up the delicate play between glamour and oddball humor with works by Django Hernández and Peter Piller. An expansive sculpture by Sabine Hornig is at the center of the stand concept at Barbara Thumm, Berlin. On the other hand, Goff + Rosenthal, New York, are bringing in a mixture of American and Berlin artists, giving a foretaste of their Berlin branch’s future orientation. Current work from Norway by Anne-Karin Furunes, Mikkel McAlinden and Mette Tronvoll will be on view at Galleri K from Oslo.
Barbara Probst, who started her career in Munich has lived for a long time in New York. Her photographs always seem in motion or as if they are animated. The Museum for Contemporary Photography in Chicago will soon dedicate a solo show to her in 2007. At the fair, Barbara will be on display at Kuckei + Kuckei, Berlin. Four large-format, abstract paintings by Joseph Marioni, George Tjungurrayi, Melinda Harper and Heimo Zobernig are juxtaposed by the gallery David Pestorius’ of Brisbane. These pose the still unresolved question of the difference between or equal value of international art and aboriginal desert painting.
First-time participants
The well-known Paris gallery, Art:Concept, will present itself in Berlin with works by Michel Blazy, Gedi Sobony and Roman Signer. The presentation by new-Berliner and ex-Cologner Aurel Scheibler at Art Forum Berlin is awaited with great expectation; Jack Pierson, Bridget Riley and Anthony Goicolea will set the primary accents at the stand. The Black Dragon Society from Los Angeles is bringing Gustavo Herrera, Nick Lowe and Julie Kirkpatrick to the shores of the Spree River.
The presentation of the young Scottish Sorcha Dallas Gallery of Glasgow promises to be riveting. The gallery is showing drawings and objects by Kate Davis, whose solo exhibition at the Kunsthalle Basel ended in May 2006. Controversial and exciting is the mix with which The Breeder from Athens presents itself, showing works by Vangelis Vlahos, Markus Amm and Marc Bijl. Another entry from Athens is the Gallery Gazonrouge. The selection is broad, ranging from Yorgos Sapountzis, who studied with Rebecca Horn in Berlin at the UdK, to Eleni Kamma and Poka Yio. At Tim van Laere, Antwerp, works by Ellen De Meutter, Victoria Civera, Sergio De Beukkelaer and others can be discovered. Fiedler Contemporary, Cologne, is showing Sonja Braas, Markus Weggemann and Beat Zoderer at its stand. Laurent Godin, Paris, is arriving with the likes of Aleksandra Mir and others. Among the strengthened faction of French galleries are Fabienne Leclerc (in Situ Gallery, Paris) and Kamel Mennour, Paris—both galleries are showing, among others, artists who have spent some time in Berlin, like the painter Damien Deroubaix and Adel Abdessemed, who repeatedly creates sensations at major exhibitions with his spectacular but well-conceived works.
Returnees
Spencer Brownstone of New York presents two artists well known in Berlin: Zilla Leutenegger and Bernhard Martin. After 10 years and, as a new-Berliner, Buchmann (formerly Cologne) is coming to Art Forum Berlin with fascinating and compact works by Bettina Pousttchi, Sean Dawson, and Wilhelm Mundt.
Josephine Meckseper, Gareth James and the video artists Harry Dodge and Stanka Kahn will be on view at Elizabeth Dee, New York. On the other hand, Leo Koenig, New York, is bringing in painting in exciting combinations from both New York and Europe while Mark Müller, Zurich, presents works by Katharina Grosse, Sabina Baumann and Axel Lieber.
The Art Forum Talks 2006
The Art Forum Berlin Talks 2006 will be wide-ranging and on a high intellectual level. The series, which began in 2000, will be continued for the seventh time and will again offer visitors to the art fair a discussion platform for current themes of art and cultural policy, conducted in collaboration with many partners. This year’s Art Forum Berlin Talks focus on current cultural and art policy tendencies from all over the world: from the art scenes on the other side of the Mediterranean to Tokyo, from Africa to Eastern Europe. Equally international are the renowned artists, curators, collectors, journalists and researchers who, twice a day, will inform and inspire the public with a discussion that is equally fascinating and controversial. The Art Forum Berlin Talks will be conducted in the Talk Lounge at the Palais am Funkturm. The Lounge is designed this year by the winners of the GASAG Art Prize.
The Planned Program
Art from countries beyond the Mediterranean have long had a special position and have always been perceived in a similar context. For some years now, artists living there have been developing an ever more independent art and have been forming new art centers that work together across borders. These new art scenes will be presented and discussed during the Talks.
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