Exhibition Diary | Berlin | Dragoner.02

⬛️ August 7 was my first day wandering around Berlin. I originally planned to visit some galleries and see something interesting, but everything turned out to be piles of boring 💩. It seems things are heading in a more conservative direction. After sulking in a café under the sun for an hour, I decided to check out the Berlin Academy of Arts. Turns out, during the summer break, there are no exhibitions, and only a few scattered students around. It felt like I was back at CAFA (Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing), and to be honest, it was quite dull. But while wandering, I spotted a small A6 poster on the wall advertising something called the Super Contemporary Arts Fest. I figured, why not check it out since I was already bored? At the venue, it was just me and two artists—something that's quite common, even for a free exhibition, not many people show up. 🟥 First, the space—it was truly super! It must have been an old car factory, with the Toyota logo still visible on the walls. Half-height tiles added an extra layer of texture to the space, giving it a sense of order. The large space was divided into smaller ones, creating a good rhythm without feeling too disjointed. The lighting, I must say, was better than any factory space in 798 Art District. No need for renovation—it was ready to go. 🟧 Next, the artworks—the richness of the space really enhanced the presentation of the pieces. Even the simplest works on display became small spectacles. The connections between the works were perfectly maintained in this one setting. Despite a simple exhibition layout, the diversity was enough—it felt as if the works were growing organically from the space itself. Two pieces, in particular, stood out for their display method and completeness. I'll talk more about them in a few days. ◻️ Lastly, since there were only two artists around when I arrived, we naturally started chatting. One was Turkish, the other German, both really down-to-earth. They even invited me to their closing performance at 6 PM. By the time the evening came, all the participating artists had gathered. I had the chance to meet more creators living in Berlin, all of them interesting, struggling, and, like always, very broke. #Berlin #ExhibitionVisit #ContemporaryArt #BerlinTravel #ArtInstallation #ArtSpaces #MustSeeExhibitions #StrugglingArtists #BerlinArtScene