Patterns, symbols, connections: how these artists show that value lies in broader perspectives
A creative city provides a rich platform for blending traditional symbols with contemporary forms. This exhibition in Berlin shows how heritage and simplicity can be combined into new worldviews.
PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 320 posts, we featured an art festival, cartoon gallery, world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair, climate change expo, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, and jazz festival.
The renovated museum Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin features a range of international artists such as Walker Evans, Anish Kapoor, Paul Klee, and Johannes Itten. Its current exhibition is titled ‘And Berlin Will Always Need You: Art, Craft and Concept Made in Berlin.’ It showcases the creative power of crafts as an art form, with the title drawing its inspiration from visual artist Dorothy Iannone.
Even the simplest materials and traditional techniques can be combined to make powerful statements about our world and the way it could be. The artworks in this exhibition reflect a range of materials and themes building on natural fibres (Olaf Holzapfel), rope sculptures (Leonor Antunes), woven forms (Willem de Rooij), and patterned carpets (Nevin Aladağ).
There is also a video installation by Theo Eshetu, and a spectacular large-scale atrium exhibit by Chiharu Shiota made of interwoven yarn. The exhibition is curated by Natasha Ginwala and Julienne Lorz.
From Eastern to European, and from utilitarian to abstract, the art works are complemented by a range of publications and artifacts in the museum store, as showcased in this photo essay. Other featured artists are Julieta Aranda, Alice Creischer, Andreas Siekmann, Mariechen Danz, Antje Majewski, Simon Wachsmuth and Haegue Yang.
Now, what have you done today to find the special in the ordinary, and re-examine how creativity and value are recognised in our society?
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