2nd Semester Week 6

Wow.. back from Berlin and what a brilliant visit although quite tiring on the legs but well worth it. Landed Monday night and eventually found the hotel after a scenic walk about the backstreets of Berlin. The first night was really just getting settled in and having a drink planning the next days jaunt.

Tuesdays travel took us to the Neue Nationalgalerie where German Artist Gerhard Richter's work was being exhibited. This was a really lovely collection that took over one floor. The sheer size of these pieces are awe inspiring but did leave me feeling a little dizzy due to the blurry images, still magnificent none the less.

Meanwhile downstairs at the gallery there was a display of work from a magnitude of artists that gave great pleasure in viewing, these being some of my favourites like Rothko and Yves Klein and so many others with weird and wonderful work.

The whole day was spent in there and then off to the holocaust memorial to look at the concrete block sculptures, these were very absorbing and took up a great area of space. The sheer spectacle of viewing from the path was very intimidating but when you walked through these sculptures it became evident of their purpose.

These cold concrete blocks tower above you and are very cold and have condensation dripping from them. There is a very sad feeling when walking through these sculptures that cannot be explained. The level of the cobbled floor paths moves continuously and changes the sculptures as you walk through the many paths. Even though we went through these pieces in a group we were soon alone and that was the saddest feeling the cold loneliness that the environment portrays.

The streets of Berlin are as interesting as the galleries and have many walls and buildings covered in graffiti and artwork, but even the local squats were enhanced by the attempts at art and sculpture, i found these pieces simply by walking around the back streets with the camera.

various sculptures made from recycled materials. there was a wild boar made from old tree twigs and branches, an elephant in the tree made from black plastic rubbish bags and a wildebeest made from old rags a great arrangement in strange surroundings.

Now I am all inspired by seeing all this art and some works from my favourite artists like Gerhard Richter, Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko & Yves Klein and many more that i have not even heard of i need to get my act into gear to get my work completed for lightworks 2012 where hopefully it will be in either the Gate or Abbey Walk galleries.

Und ich muss sagen auf wiedersehen für jetzt meine Freunde und sie nächste Woche