Kunst Berlin Exhibition Series
Featuring Michael Goering, curated by Klaus Postler
 Kunst Berlin began in 2002, when independent curator,Klaus Postler's traveled to
Berlin to research and observe the artistic practices throughout the city. Postler
posits the notion that Berlin is to the artworld of the EU, what NYC is
to the artworld of the US. He anticipates that as the economies of both
nations continue on their trajectories of change - the E.U. and hence
Berin, will play a larger role on the world art stage. Postler arrived in
Berlin with a set of open ended questions: what type of work was being
produced post-Berlin Wall?; what issues were informing the works of art
being produced?; and, how does national origin influence art work in
general?; more specifically, what does it mean to be a German artist
today?, and is there in fact a national identity at play in the current
German art scene? Also in what ways is the work being produced in Berlin
and the work being produced in NY different - and in what ways were they
the same? Lastly, what, if any, cross-cultural pollination is occurring?
Postler was determined to select artists for the exhibition based on the
visual excitement that the work engendered and at the same time he
wanted to provide a unique opportunity for the selected emerging artists
to be shown in the U.S. for the first time. In doing so, he intends that
answers to the above questions would be addressed.
As an artist himself, and as a co-founder and director of an
alternative gallery space in Brattleboro VT, (One Step Beyond) Postler
has a keen understanding of both the need to have one's work be seen by
a broad spectrum of viewers and is also sensitive to the obstacles
emerging artists encounter.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Conceptual Artist Michael Göring studied at the Art Academy Münster and has
been exhibiting his sculpture and installations throughout Germany
for the past eight years. Kunst Berlin will mark his U.S. debut.
The installation Göring has conceived for Hampden Gallery
Is deceptively simple in its presentation. Consisting of over 100 vases - each
filled with an inflated balloon and suspended at varying heights from
the gallery's 14 foot high ceilings.
Over time, the individual balloons deflate gradually and the
vase is freed from suspension and crashes to the ground. It is an easy
leap toviewthe balloon as stand in for the human spirit and the vase as
stand in for the physical body.
A version of the balloon project was shown in the exhibition "Joker" in
Berlin at the Felixleiter - Raum
Fur Kunst in 2001. Göring's work elicited great excitement with the
public who would return day after day to witness the gradual descent of
the vases and eventually their ultimate demise. We believe this same
fascination will occur among students and the campus community when
Göring's piece is on view at Hampden Gallery whose 43-foot long wall of
windows faces the pedestrian zone, making it an ideal location for this
unfolding, ever-evolving, drama to take place.When:
Monday, March 7 - Wednesday, March 30, 2005 Educational Events:
Artist in Residence with Michael Goering
Kunst Berlin Exhibition Series
Wednesday, March 2 - Thursday, March 10, 2005 Opening Reception with the Artist Michael Goering
Kunst Berlin Exhibition Series
Monday, March 7, 2005 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Free and Open to the Public - |
