February 15th, 2012
The other week I wrote about the ice crystals that formed on my studio windows. This week I ventured out into the subzero temperatures to see the people frolicking on the ice of the frozen canal nearby. It is a world away from the balmy Summer evenings I spent there with friends and a bottle of wine watching the sunset and people paddling about in their canoes, who were also intent on enjoying the atmosphere with friends and an alcoholic beverage.
So, some six months later, where there were once small water craft were people cavorting on the ice. Some dusted off their ice skates, others took to walking, I took my bicycle. There was adequate snow cover on the ice that I could get traction. It is an interesting to be standing where you normally can’t and to look at everything from a new perspective. It is also interesting to see how people use this new found public space.
There were small ice hockey areas, along with a few strips where you run and then take a slide. However, perhaps strangest of all was the sounds of Summer that had returned to this spot. Someone had hired a small truck and driven it into the park that borders the canal and set up a sound system, a grill with sausages and hot mulled wine. All of this was then completed with a disco ball and people gathered for the beats. However, to my observation, I think most of the movement was more to keep warm than any real form of dancing.
February 4th, 2012
Last Witner was hard. For three weeks Berlin suffered through -20C, and I also. The old building that is our artist project house, Atelierhaus Mengerzeile, is not in good shape. It has has been through much more and now with time it is need of some repairs. Such repairs being the windows in my studio. So after discovering last Winter that my windows were the culprit of my ever chilly studio and the subsequent very large heating bill, this Autumn just past, I set about to ensure that I would not be shivering and pining for warmer climates.
So, here I am now, with our first snow for this Winter and some biting subzero temperatures. I can happily announce that the repairs have succeeded in keeping my warmer and happy.
To amuse me a little more, Mr. Frost has paid me a visit and shown me his own artistic abilities on my studio windows in the form of some very intricate ice crystal patterns, more often referred to as “Eisblumen” (ice flowers). So when you wonder at these images, wonder at how cold it is outside.
And yes, for those of you who live further east in Europe, or up there in Canada, the temperatures here in Berlin are a walk in the park.
January 19th, 2012
Tomorrow morning I am travelling from Berlin to Hamburg to attend the opening of the H.R. Giger Retrospective exhibition. I will be there to photograph and video the event for Fantastic Visions. I am rather hoping I can get some good footage of Giger, and perhaps, if I am lucky get him to say a few words on camera.
Hamburg artist, Dennis Konstantin will be joining me at the opening. Many thanks must go to Cornelia Mensdorff-Pouilly for getting us into this exclusive event.
More information about the exhibition and its opening times can be found on Fantastic Visions.
April 26th, 2011
Tim Roosen and Isabelle Hackars
This past Easter weekend artist and gallery owner Tim Roosen paid me a visit in my studio while he was here on business in Berlin. It was very fortuitous as it meant that I could give Tim at least one of my paintings for the forthcoming “Light Fantastic” exhibition at his NovaBelgica Gallery in Belgium.
The second painting that I intend to send is still in production and the clock is ticking. There are a few more layers to add yet.
I will be exhibiting alongside the following artists.
Christine Morren, Claus Brusen, Jacek Lipowczan, Krzysztof Izdebski-Cruz, Magda Francot,Marcin Kolpanowicz, Olga Gouskova, Peter van Oostzanen, Raoul Chanet, Sigrid Nepelius, Tommas Jorgensen, Jef Bertels, Christien Dutoit, Dirk Bosschaert, Els Wenselaers, Roland Menten, Steve Kirkham, Jo Pirard and Tim Roosen.
The details for the exhibition are as follows.
The Light Fantastic
Opening: 13th May 2011
Closes: 19th June 2011
NovaBelgica Gallery
Wildebamp 19
B-3800 Sint-Truiden
Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)495 689485
www.novabelgica.com
November 12th, 2010
Colory Gallery
I’m excited to announce that I am exhibiting with my good friends in Art, Dennis Konstantin and Micha Krebs in Berlin. We will all be exhibiting in Micha’s Colory studio gallery. Micha with his gallery is again participating this year in the Friedenau Südwestpassagekultour open studio’s weekend. A total of 50 locations have opened their doors for the weekend.
By participating in the event, Micha’s Colory Gallery has the support and promotion of something larger than what could be done alone. This is the benefit to all of all of the participants, which is why they all came together three years ago to bring more attention to the artists in that part of Berlin.
Micha has his own ground level apartment which has been over the years converted into his own live in studio and gallery. On street level are large display windows that give you a view on the fantastical world inside.
The apartment itself is a work of art. Not only has he painted mural, but also the carpet and built a large sleep-in sculpture room that is entirely themed in silver. Three other rooms follow the themes of red, the burning world of destruction, green, the living world and blue, a world of other experiences.
There are then two remaining rooms which are white wall spaces, where temporary exhibitions are hung. It is in these two rooms that Dennis and my own work are hung.
This exhibition brings the artwork of we three together for the second time this year, building upon our first collective exhibition. Dennis and I had also exhibited together in the group show “The Irresistible Flow of Time” at Galerie 10 in Vienna. Together Micha and I had previously exhibited in Galerie III, Barmstedt.
We’re all looking forward to you joining us here in Berlin to enjoy the fruits of our artistic labours.
Sat. 20.11.2010 4pm – 10pm
Sun. 21.11.2010 1pm – 7pm
Colory Gallery
Südwestkorso 12
12161 Berlin
Germany
+49 30 821 29 71
www.colory.de
