Recently Seen / Distinct Ambiguity - GRAFT Architects at Haus am Waldsee

Recently I saw an exhibition at an art space out of Berlin at Haus am Waldsee www.hausamwaldsee.de. The exhibition Distinct Ambiguity profiled a series of projects completed by GRAFT Architects www.graftlab.com. Based in Berlin, Los Angeles and Beijing, GRAFT “creates architectural hybrids which take up current cultures of taste and debates on method and reflect on political as well as aesthetic issues”. The exhibition consisted of a variety of components, from architectural models, plans, videos, installations, prints, objects etc demonstrating the creative processes involved from inception to outcome. There is an overwhelming amount of work is on display, however one project which stood out was PINK in collaboration with Brad Pitt (ofcourse!) in New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina. Check out this clip below about the PINK Project.

Though the series of projects are diverse in scale, outcome and clients, the thread of continuity is GRAFTs’ ability to elegantly combine innovative design with a social conscience and an environmentally sensitive approach of cross disciplinary excellence. I loved it.

The rear of the building which backs onto a lake.

And some cool apartment you can rent at the back of the gallery

Haus am Waldsee

L'Atelier - Kunst(Spiel)Raum, Kreuzberg

Another opening - this time at L'Atelier - Kunst(Spiel)Raum www.latelier-kunstspielraum.com – rough translation to The Studio – Art (Play) Room in Kreuzberg of a solo show by Spanish artist Bruno Olle www.brunoolle.com.

L’Atelier describes itself as an artist run initiative run by Italian curator Stefania Angelini, and shows the work of emerging international artists. It’s a pretty schmick space – after going to many grungy stinky graffiti riddled art spaces full of hipsters and pretenders where the art is secondary to the scene (which of course has its place and can be fun), it is nice to finally see a professional space showing some good work by emerging artists. The exhibition consisted of an immersive installation - a sea of plastic rubbish bags in the lower half of the gallery with which the audience interacts, a video work, and a series of pencil drawings displayed on make shift shelving intersecting the gallery in an obtrusive maze like fashion.

The thing I am finding most interesting about art spaces in Berlin is the variety of models that exists, unlike in Australia which seems fairly….homogenized – in a way that is understandable, accessible and professional – in Berlin there are so many models in operation. For example despite that fact L'Atelier operates as an ARI – it doesn’t have open access in that it calls for applications for proposals from artists; it’s programmed by a curator. Angelini will also be curating a series of one night events of art called Kunst(SHOT) – the first of which is happening this week….