The first Urban Contemporary Art Biennial in Berlin by URBAN NATION is both art mile and neighbourhood festival of Gewobag, a cooperative building company. It transforms the Bülowstraße under the subway line into an interactive urban space. Before the opening, the Press Preview offers exclusive insights into the curating and introduces the artists.
Where? Subway high line in front of the URBAN NATION MUSEUM FOR URBAN CONTEMPORARY ART, Bülowstraße 7, 10783 Berlin
The first URBAN NATION Biennial “ROBOTS AND RELICS: UN-MANNED” transforms part of the area under the subway high line at Bülowstraße from 13 to 15 September 2019 into a time capsule that encompasses the origins and distant future of cities. Under the curatorial direction of URBAN NATION Director Yasha Young and in collaboration with 25 renowned artists, a unique, over 100 meters long walk-in work of art is being created. The complete work consists of installations, interactive sculptures, a community wall and live performances. All positions of the UN Biennial want to create awareness of the power of the community, inform about the status quo, and promote the idea of sustainability. For the future of urban societies and their humane co-determination. Free of charge for all visitors, the URBAN NATION Biennial takes you into a new world worth thinking about.
Each work of art is linked to one of the 17 goals of the United Nations for sustainable development, thus focusing visitors’ awareness of issues concerning the future of the planet that affect us all. The artists come from diverse cultural contexts and their installations show different perspectives of the approaching future.
Participating artists are among others: Beeple Crap (USA), Cryptik (USA), Dima Rebus (Russia), Ekow Nimako (Canada), Filthy Luker (Great Britain), Frederique Morrel (France), Gerhard Demetz (Italy), Goin (France), HERAKUT (Germany), Inti (Chile), Julien de Casabiance (France), Louis Massai (Great Britain), Nespoon (Poland), Nomad Clan (Great Britain), Quintessence (Germany), Rune (Norway), Sandra Chevrier (Canada) Ståle Gerhardsen (Norway), Theater Anu (Germany), Vegan Flava (Sweden).
Yasha Young, Artistic Director of the URBAN NATION Museum, will present the curatorial concept and the artists. She will talk about the history of its creation, about backgrounds and visions and will take a look into the future. Dr. Hans-Michael Brey, Chairman of the Board of the Berliner Leben Foundation and Peter Burgfried, Head of Inventory Management at Gewobag, explain the aims and background of the outdoor festival.
Guides will then lead you around the area.
On the occasion of the Biennial a magazine will be published which will further address all the main themes of the exhibition.