Author: Alan Holligan

Berlin Day 2

After such a long, tiring first day it may have seemed to much to ask for everyone to be up and raring to go by 9am, but up everyone was, even if not altogether awake. So far the most inconvenient if not altogether tiresome aspect of the trip is getting tickets for the trains and trams. The problem is compounded by 2 of the 4 machines in the local station being broken and trhe 3rd not accepting notes. 23 brits paying one at a time does not make for happy locals already late for work. Several missed trains later it was off to Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum fur Gegenwart (Modern Art) Berlin.

As always this made a big impression on the first time visitors. Top tip here is to e-mail or phone ahead and book in as a student group as this exempts the whole group from entrance fees. The main spaces of the museum present an exhibition which uses thematic and surprising dialogues and individual appearances rich in associations to cast works from the Nationalgalerie, the Marx and Marzona Collections as well as the Friedrich Christian Flick Collection.

Highlights included: Rodney Grahams “Torqued Chandelier” 2004. Richard Artschwager’s “Archipeligo”, Robert Kusmirowskis, full scale paper train “Wagon” and “Un jardin d’hiver” by Marcel Broodthaers.

A certain amount of persuasion was required to get everyone out and of to the architecturally stunning Berlin Hauptbahnhoff for a “traditional” German transit lunch.

BK Whoppers don’t take long to scoff so within the hour we were on the rain to Zoo Station on hopping on a bus tour of the city, a little cheesy perhaps but a great way to see the city. All the main sites and history were covered a rather witty tour guide. On return to Zoo the students were left to their own devices and it was off shopping to Ka De We followed by a rather splendid dinner at Café Einstein.

Berlin Cont….

Last night,  eveyone, well almost everyone, (no names) made it out for the city centre walk. U-Bahn to MoherStr then to the Holocaust Memorial, a tremendously moving experience for all. The momorial is particulary unsettling and sombre at night. We plan to return during the day on Thursday so people can experience the it in daylight. On to the Brandenburg Gate, Unter Der Linden, Friedrichstrasse and a brief stop at Kunsthaus Tacheles before heading for food then bed. Not a bad 1st day

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ContemporaryArtETC… in Berlin

Sipping latte and organic cola in the St Oberholz internet cafe is not the worst way to settle in to Berlin by any means. It has been a hectic, long day starting a 4am for most of our weary travelers. Finally though we are here. Despite a slight blip getting the train into town we were greeted with the the customary warmth of the East Seven hostel. Everyone is content but weary so perhaps the 3 mile walk through the city centre will sort the hardcore from the early bedders. To be cont……

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Vacancy: Exhibitions Assistant (p/t) at Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh

Vacancy: Exhibitions Assistant (p/t) at Talbot Rice Gallery, deadline for applications is 26 March 2010.

Based at Talbot Rice Gallery, the University public art gallery, you will work on exhibitions, assisting the Principal Curator to develop exhibition ideas and contribute to the research and planning activities . This is a busy role in the operational delivery of the exhibition programme including assisting with logistics, artist liaison and communications. Please note that you are able to apply even though it is identified on the Website as being for internal application only. Interviews are likely to be held week of 19 April 2010.

Details of the vacancy and online application at http://www.jobs.ed.ac.uk/

 

Glasgow International (GI) Festival Of Visual Art.

16.04.10 – 03.05.10

Glasgow’s museums, galleries, streets, bridges and hidden spaces will showcase the work of national and international artists when Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art returns in April 2010, building on the critical and popular success of the Festival in 2008.

An epic and immersive installation in the enormous interior of Tramway, a soundwork resonating from the banks of the River Clyde, an assortment of surreal objects inserted within the collection of one of Europe’s most important museums, drawings and sculptures from one of contemporary culture’s most influential artists, and bicycles take to the city’s streets for Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art’s fourth edition.

Under the artistic direction of Katrina Brown and inspired by the relationships between past, present and future, over 50 artists are presenting sculpture, drawings, film, video, soundworks, performance and music in venues and locations, ranging from the renowned Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Hunterian Art Gallery, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) and Tramway to diverse artist-run collectives, small galleries, temporary sites and the hidden and outdoor spaces of the city.

Glasgow-based artists remain at the forefront of the Festival with David Shrigley creating a collection of intriguing sculptures and objects for museum cases at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum; Glasgow-born Susan Philipsz realises her first outdoor sound work on home ground along the banks of the River Clyde, and Douglas Gordon opens the Festival with a new video installation citing his own landmark work 24 Hour Psycho, first shown at Tramway in 1993. Renowned environmental arts organisation NVA re-enact the infamous White Bike Plan, a Dutch anarchist eco-action of the 1960s, by releasing fifty white bikes onto the streets of Glasgow, whilst Kate Davis and Faith Wilding collaborate on an exhibition exploring feminist legacies in contemporary art at CCA.

A number of international artists sit at the heart of the programme ;-

*Drawings from the ARTISTS ROOMS collection by Joseph Beuys who had strong links to Scotland and whose work provides a powerful context to much of the work showing in the Festival.

*Renowned Swiss artist Christoph Büchel, known for his massive-scale hyper real experiential works takes on the imposing space at Tramway with a dramatic new commission.

*David Maljkovic (Croatia) – one of the most exciting artists to emerge from Europe in recent years – has his first solo show in the UK – video and collage works in a specially designed sculptural installation in a new space in the Merchant City.

*Gerard Byrne, who represented Ireland at the Venice Biennale 2007 presents a major new film work; and internationally acclaimed artist Fiona Tan shows her mesmerising film installation Tomorrow at the Gallery of Modern Art.

*Punk artist-designer and radical feminist Linder exhibits her montage images at Sorcha Dallas gallery and presents a unique performance in collaboration with fashion designer Richard Nicoll and musician Stuart McCallum.

In addition other galleries, venues and artists’ collectives such as Transmission Gallery Lowsalt, market Gallery, The Modern Institute, Mary Mary , FINN collective, Glasgow Sculpture Studios and SWG3 create new works in found spaces, existing venues and on the streets of the city. Washington Garcia presents the work of Australian artist David Noonan at the Mitchell Library, while Glasgow Sculpture Studios is working with Jimmie Durham.

Further details of these exhibitions and others are still to be announced and we will keep you updated as often as possible.

The Festival’s exhibitions programme is complemented by a lively programme of talks, screenings, seminars, performances and other events.

www.glasgowinternational.org