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Art Forum Berlin

September 16, 2008

Larger Than Life

ART FORUM BERLIN 2008
The International Fair for Contemporary Art
31 October – 3 November, Opening October 30, 2008

http://www.art-forum-berlin.com

127 galleries from 26 countries will present their stars and new discoveries in exciting combinations at this year’s ART FORUM BERLIN, from 31 October to 3 November (opening 30 October). Exhibitor’s from Europe, the USA, Central America, India, Russia, Japan and, for the first time, South Africa will show both complex and fresh artistic positions in Berlin, thus providing a concise insight into the production of contemporary art in our times.

Successful features will remain and some innovations will be added. Once again, the A-Z gallery course will lead through the fairground’s light halls which are classified as heritage-protected buildings. This tried and tested approach makes a compact style of presentation possible.

A series of innovations will enhance the programme: the Berlin based architect Roger Bundschuh has developed a novel hall structure for the Freestyle-Gallery Stands and on the last day of the fair, curators, art historians and critics can take part in a PROFESSIONAL MONDAY for the first time. In addition, the international Collectors’ Program will be extended giving exhibitors the opportunity to meet with a new collectors’ community.

Twice daily international experts will give insights into an increasingly globalized world of the arts based on their particular fields. The ART FORUM BERLIN TALKS 2008 feature “Collectors and Artists”, “The New Media”, continue its series of talking about “The art scenes of the Middle East” and discuss the particular of this year’s special exhibition at the fair.

ART FORUM BERLIN’s special exhibition “difference, what difference?” addresses the general question of the value and significance of art. For this reason, the showing reflects upon its special function as a mediating situation on the front between the market and discourse. Curator Hans-Jürgen Hafner poses the crucial questions: What is the function of a curated thematic show within an art fair framework? Is it possible that a work of art is not just seen as a commodity in such circumstances?“Difference, what difference?” as an exhibition format imitates the conventions of the art fair. Not just because its concept reflects on the structure ‚art fair’, but also the means and form of display of the art works are derived from the usual conditions of an art fair.

With: Bettina Allamoda / Ian Anüll / Marcel Broodthaers / Victor Burgin / Jacques Charlier / Koenraad Dedobbeleer / Simona Denicolai / Ivo Provoost / Sylvie Fleury / Irene Fortuyn / Andrea Fraser / Peter Friedl / General Idea / Sabine Gross / Lasse Schmidt Hansen / Thomas Huber / Luis Jacob / Josef Kramhöller / Matthieu Laurette / Louise Lawler / Klaus Merkel / Verena Pfisterer / Falke Pisano / Charlotte Posenenske / Kelly Schacht / Noé Sendas / Milica Tomic / Nadim Vardag / Andy Warhol / Stephen Willats / Vadim Zakharov / Elmar Zimmermann / Heimo Zobernig

Art lovers are invited to join special programs starting already in the evening of 29 October at Martin-Gropius-Bau featuring a presentation of the last ten years of acquisitions of the German State Collection. The opening of ART FORUM BERLIN will be flanked by the opening nights of the blockbusters The Universe Klee. Paul Klee at Neue Nationalgalerie and a project of Jeff Koons at the foyer of Neue Nationalgalerie. Further highlights of the late autumn in Berlin will be solo shows of Andy Warhol, Joseph Beuys and Ayse Erkmen at Hamburger Bahnhof and the group show Deconstructions of the Artists’ Myths’ with works from the Friedrich Christian Flick Collection and others at the Rieck Hall’s, adjacent to the museum. The Intimate in Everyday Life, photographs from the collection of agnès b., Paris, will be shown at C/O Berlin Forum for Visual Dialogues. Sensations of the Emprisoned are going to be experienced at KW Institute for Contemporary Art. Akademie der Künste presents the intriguing group show Notation and at the Former State Mint the group exhibition Megastructure Reloaded presents architectural utopias of the 60ies reflected by contemporary artists. Also Berlin’s 3rd European Month of Photography will start during the fair.

This year’s schedule offers many attractions, exclusive openings, parties and special events. Most prominently the opening of the new and privately funded Temporary Kunsthalle on Schlossplatz, featuring South African born artist Candice Breitz.

All of this makes ART FORUM BERLIN 2008 an even more prominent and essential place to be for collectors, curators and lovers of contemporary art.

ART FORUM BERLIN 2008 The International Fair for Contemporary Art, 31 October – 3 November 2008, Opening: Thursday, 30 October 2008 http://www.art-forum-berlin.com

For further information please contact:
Anne Maier at ART FORUM BERLIN
Messedamm 22, DE – 14055 Berlin
Tel.: +49-30-30 38 18 36/-37, Fax: +49-30-30 38 18 38
E-Mail: maier@messe-berlin.de

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