From Looking and Gathering in Berlin - Every Art Fair needs a Profile
It is clear that no one always wants to see the same galleries and artists in the world. The art market in Berlin is not yet that broadly positioned than in New York or London. The Art Berlin Contemporary has over the years moulted itself to a Berlin hobbyhorse wanting to change this situation.
Whether it is a fair or not - the Art Berlin Contemporary, in short abc, is an exhibition format for national and international galleries exhibiting selected contemporary art. The special thing here is that each individual artist is at the forefront and not the program of the galleries.
The abc started in 2008 as a supplement of the Berlin fair "Art Forum Berlin", which was held in the exhibition halls at the Funkturm Berlin. Initially it was a private initiative of the following Berlin galleries: Galerie Guido W. Baudach, Mehdi Chouakri, Galerie Kamm, Meyer Riegger, Galerie Neu, Neugerriemschneider, Esther Schipper und Zak Branicka. The abc became partner of the “Berlin Art Week” and takes place as a highlight during the framework programme each year in September. Since 2013 Maike Cruse is the director of abc. She was previously the spokesperson of "Art Basel".
Berlin is internationally recognized as one of the most exciting cities for artists. Gladly the scene coquets with its experimental project space charm and the free artistry. But the hard-hitting art business yields to the situation that many galleries struggle to survive.
In 2008, the abc launched with 75 positions in view of sculptures, installations and projected images. A specific main topic was always treated. This was followed by topics on art in public spaces, regarding cinematography, performance art and painting. After the abc separated from the Art Forum Berlin in 2011, the format detached itself from the curatorial requirements. It settled in the "Station Berlin". Each participating gallery is free to choose which artists may participate from their portfolio at the abc. The goal is, as already mentioned, to always put the artist in the foreground and not the gallery. This year, the architecture of the buildings will remain a central topic. Typically for Berlin, the stands will be placed anywhere in the room. The individual artists and galleries are not presented separately from the others, but they should exhibit their art distributed randomly.
This year's exhibition will be held from 17th to the 20th September 2015 at the exhibition halls "Station Berlin" at Gleisdreieck.
