Berlin 2000–2011: Playing among the Ruins

Ever since the fall of the Wall in 1989, Berlin has undergone a continuous process of change, attracting world attention as a political, economic and cultural laboratory.

Since the 00s Berlin has become the hottest city in the world for artists. A loose social network is established facilitating cross-genre collaboration and interaction. In answer to the increasingly complicated socio-political situation that was driven by globalization, various social commentaries were concealed within every work, echoing through the streets of Berlin like music.

While the Wall stood, the people longed for liberation and Berlin came to symbolize their fight for freedom. This enthusiasm still remains and the free spaces dotted throughout the city are what make the present Berlin such a 'special place.' The micro-utopias presented 'here,' these special places that we are permitted today, are expressed through videos, paintings, performances, etc., by 18 artists and projects that have gathered together from around the world to base themselves in Berlin. The history of society that replaces ideology, the reconstruction of stories, the relationship between spaces and identity brought about by intervention with the city, are questioned through performances, art, information, bodies, and urban spaces, demonstrating a spectacular creativity with a new phase of sensibility.

Berlin is the place where we can see a form of art that has yet to come. This exhibition is being held with the support of the Goethe-Institut, Japan, as part of the festivities to celebrate "150 Years Friendship Germany-Japan".

Yuko Hasegawa, Chief Curator

Artists: Nevin Aladağ / John Bock / Phil Collins/ Omer Fast / Fuji Re-United (Simon Fujiwara & Kan Fujiwara)/ Isa Genzken / Katharina Grosse / Alicja Kwade / Simon Dybbroe Møller / Kirstine Roepstorff / Anri Sala / Matthias Wermke & Mischa Leinkauf / Ming Wong / Haegue Yang / Saâdane Afif / Jay Chung & Q Takeki Maeda / Christian Jankowski / Institute for Spatial Experiments (founded by Olafur Eliasson) *Refers to the Artists who will be showing from Oct.29 onwards.

Curatorial Staff: Yuko Hasegawa (Chief Curator at MOT), Kazuhiko Yoshizaki (Assistant Curator at MOT) Angela Rosenberg (Independent Curator)

Organized by: Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo/Goethe-Institut Japan

Exhibition Catalogue: "Berlin 2000–2011: Playing among the Ruins" Color page :128 TEXT: ENGLISH / JAPANESE

Berlin 2000–2011:
Playing among the Ruins
Kuratoren: Yuko Hasegawa, Kazuhiko Yoshizaki, Angela Rosenberg

Künstler: Nevin Aladag, John Bock, Phil Collins, Omer Fast, Fuji Re-United  (Simon Fujiwara & Kan Fujiwara); Isa Genzken, Katharina Grosse, Alicja Kwade, Simon Dybbroe Moller, Kirstine Roepstorff, Anri Sala, Matthias Wermke & Mischa Leinkauf, Ming Wong, Haegue Yang, Saadane Afif, Jay Chung & Q Takeki Maeda, Christian Jankowski