Gallery Weekend is finally back, marking the arrival of spring with a lineup of top-notch exhibitions. Over the weekend, visitors can meander from one opening to another (there are even unofficially participating exhibition spaces and art shops hosting special events). At Galerie Buchholz, Wolfgang Tillmans delves into the essence of image production: how are images crafted, and how do objects and contemporary phenomena transform when photographically represented in specific ways? Tillmans experiments with techniques and scale until the mundane transcends into something otherworldly. While Tillmans explores the interplay of technology and art, photographer Jochen Lempert directs his lens toward nature. At BQ, he captures the flight of swifts in analog black-and-white photographs. The timing of his exhibition couldn’t be more fitting: as Gallery Weekend unfolds, migratory birds return to Europe after their nine-month journey from Africa, heralding the onset of summer.

Esther Schipper’s work takes a more abstract approach to perception, as Ann Veronica Janssens works with glass, air and color to alter space. Marcel Frey, at Thomas Fischer’s gallery in Mitte, challenges our perception by skillfully overlapping surfaces, prompting us to reconsider what we define as two- or three-dimensional. “Cabin” is an exploration of perception: the group exhibition “Shudder Mornings” glimpses into a dreamlike everyday existence, where, through the eyes of painters like Alexander Skats and Zuzanna Bartoszek, the world appears as a movie set. Gallery Weekend is a chance to explore and spark curiosity, all set against the backdrop of the blossoming Berlin spring.

Text: Laura Storfner / Photos: Hanne Darboven & Charlotte Posenenske; Wolfgang Tillmans / Credit: Courtesy of the Estate of Charlotte Posenenske, and Mehdi Chouakri, Berlin; Klosterfelde Edition Hamburg; Galerie Buchholz

Gallery Weekend (26.–28.04.2024)

Galerie Buchholz, Fasanenstr.30, 10719 Berlin–Wilmersdorf; map
Wolfgang Tillmans 26.04.–15.06.2024. Opening 26.04. 18–21h

BQ, Weydingerstr.10, 10178 Berlin–Mitte; map
Jochen Lempert – Ankunft der Mauersegler 26.04.–29.06.2024. Opening 26.04. 18–21h

Esther Schipper via Lift oder Treppen, Potsdamer Str. 81e/ Obergeschoss, 10785 Berlin–Tiergarten; map
Ann Veronica Janssens – Spring Show 26.04.–05.06.2024. Opening 26.04. 18–21h

Galerie Thomas Fischer, Mulackstr.14, 10119 Berlin–Mitte; map
Marcel Frey – Petitessence until 01.06.2024

Cabin, Mariannenstr.26A, 10999 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
Shudder Mornings 26.04.–28.06.2024. Opening 26.04.2024

@bq_berlin
@estherschippergallery
@galeriethomasfischer
@cabinberlin

Viewing love not merely as a static thing, but a mutable action imbued with political power — it’s this that the “Love is a Verb” festival invites you to do. Taking place from April 12th to April 21st, 2024, the multi-layered event will unfold across Berlin’s HAU1 to HAU4, boasting an impressive lineup of artists and thinkers, including Jumoke Adeyanju, Lia Becker, Melanie Bonajo, Ali Chahrour, Ivo Dimchev, Wen Hui, Suzanne Lacy, Twin Shadow, Isabel Lewis, Ligia Lewis, Sarah Vanhee and many more. The initiative behind “Love is a Verb” seeks to transcend conventional notions of love and delve into transformative modes of connection. In an era marked by global crisis, it becomes increasingly evident how vital it is to view love as an active practice that extends beyond romantic relationships, enabling us to navigate contradictions and envision new forms of togetherness.

At the heart of the festival lies the “Vessel of Love,” a space crafted by Sophie Utikal and conceptualized by Diane Esnault and Shaly López. Here, ideas surrounding transformative relationships are shared, debated and celebrated through different mediums, including concerts, performances, lectures and discussions. In addition to artistic productions, the festival offers digital projects and interactive experiences at HAU4. “Love is a Verb” is a space to explore the politics of love and ways to coexist harmoniously. It serves as a poignant reminder that love transcends mere sentiment; it is a dynamic force that empowers us to evolve collectively and shape the world around us.

Text: Hilka Dirks / Photos: Jamila Kae, Carl Halal & HAU

HAU Hebbel am Ufer, Stresemannstr.29, 10963 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
Love is A Verb 12.–21.04.2024. / HAU1, HAU2, HAU3, HAU4. The whole program & tickets are available here.

@hauberlin