Artists loved West Berlin during the Cold War. This was because the government, in an effort to attract residents to the walled-in city, offered special subsidies to artists who moved there.
Now that the Wall is down, the city continues to be a art Mecca, attracting talent from all over the world as well as that which is homegrown.
If you happened to be in Berlin today and tomorrow, be sure to check out the 11th annual Berlin Art Forum.
This “international trade fair for contemporary art” runs through October 4 at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds and features 120 galleries showcasing the work of artists from 25 countries. According to the Art Forum website, visitors can expect to see “all forms of 21st century art ranging from video and photography, to paintings, sculptures, installations, graphics, and multimedia.”
The Art Forum will also feature a number of, you guessed it, forums. Tonight at 5:30, for example, Bratislava artist Laco Teren will be discussing the Slovak Contemporary Art Scene. Even if you don’t speak Slovak you should check it out because as we all know, art transcends language.