FOUR VENUES & INFINITE ART — DISCOVERING THE EPHEMERAL AT THE BERLIN BIENNALE

At the 13th Berlin Biennale, subtly revolutionary works can be found alongside poetically unambiguous ones. “passing the fugitive on” is the title of the 13th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art, which finally opened last Friday (13.06.2025). A fitting title for the international exhibition, which is taking place at four main venues and just as many sister venues throughout the city, and is showing art of an exceptionally high political and poetic density. Almost all the works on display are united by revolutionary curiosity. Curator Zasha Colah took her cue from the urban fox — the very animal that moves fleetingly through Berlin. In the buildings of KW, the former margarine factory in Auguststrasse, visitors are led down into a room in which sandstone blocks are stacked to form a staircase. Margherita Moscardininumbers each stone, provides it with a certificate of authenticity, and thus questions ownership as a construction. Nearby, in the Sophiensælen, charcoal drawings scrape away at the history of the place, while right-wing slogans sound from a radio by Amol K. Patil until they silently disappear in smoke. Meanwhile, glowing chalk paintings by Larissa Araz hang in the Hamburger Bahnhof, and a fiery red banner by Gabriel Alarcón throws colonial power relations back onto the present.

In the vacant Moabit courthouse, there is not only art to discover, but also an unusual exhibition space. Among other things, a sarcastic cooking video by Helena Uambembe flickers there, kneading mud instead of dough, and discussing nation, origin, and memory. Much remains incidental. The exhibition wins the hearts of viewers through gentle restraint. In this spirit, the curator largely dispenses with big international names and focuses on the works themselves (even if art connoisseurs find many positions they are familiar with, such as the Berlin-based Hannah Höch or Gernot Wieland and the award-winning international star Steve McQueen). The supporting program includes readings, walks, and discussions that complement the overall artistic approach. It’s all about what you take away with you. Or what you pass on. And that is worthwhile.

Text: Hilka Dirks / Credits: Anawana Haloba, Looking for Mukamusaba – An Experimental Opera, 2024/25, installation view, 13. Berlin Biennale, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, 2025. Courtesy Anawana Haloba, Sammlung / Collection Hartwig Art Foundation, Photo: Marvin Systermans; Fredj Moussa, بلاد البربر , 2025; Jane Jin Kaisen, Wreckage, 2024.

13. Berlin Biennale
14.06.–14.09.2025. Find the full program here.

KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Auguststr.69, 10117 Berlin–Mitte; map

Sophiensæle, Sophienstr.18, 10178 Berlin–Mitte; map

Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart, Invalidenstr.50, 10557 Berlin–Moabit; map

Ehemaliges Gerichtsgebäude Lehrter Straße, Lehrter Str.60, 10557 Berlin–Moabit; map

@berlinbiennale

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Restaurants

REI — JAPANESE INSPIRED BAR & IZAKAYA WITH LATE NIGHT FOOD, SAKE & VINYL IN KREUZBERG

Rei is a little darker, a little more intimate, a little louder — and yet designed with the same signature style that makes Buya Ramen one of the most popular ramen spots. In March 2025, Sascha Brand’s team opened the next chapter with Rei, a bar and izakaya in front of Buya’s premises on Reichenberger Straße. Japanese-inspired, with a focus on comfort food, exceptional drinks, and live performances. The team includes Gennaro De Simone, previously at Soho House London, who is responsible for the exciting cocktail menu. Sake specialist Yuuki Itoh (who some may remember from Sake 36) carefully curates the sake menu and accompanies tastings and events. Luis Velasco, who worked at Buya, is doing his magic in the kitchen. Rei feels like a secret sanctuary: where a Späti used to be, there is now a space with warm textures, an analog sound system, and subdued lighting. A setting with plenty to discover, starting with the window fronts, covered in graffiti and posters. The modular interior, which can be used to separate individual rooms, tables, and events, creates a new look every evening. In culinary terms, Rei is deeply rooted in Japanese street food culture, reinterpreted with local ingredients and an international twist.

The menu is designed for sharing — Karaage Chicken, King Prawns, Pork & Tofu Gyoza, Sticky Ribs, Green-Fired Beef, Charred Cabbage, and Aonori Fries. Vegetarian and vegan dishes such as Tofu Karaage or Celeriac Bites are not alternatives, they’re main protagonists. Music isn’t a backdrop, but another protagonist. In the future, there’ll be changing DJs playing vinyl on Fridays and Saturdays, on Wednesdays there will be “naked jazz” live sessions, on Thursdays occasional acoustic live concerts, and every fortnight on a Sunday, tango dancing.

Text: Robyn Steffen / Photos: Sonni Frej

Rei Bar, Reichenberger Str.36, 10999 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map

@reibar.berlin

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Activities

TABLE TENNIS FOR EVERYONE AT DING DONG PING PONG IN PRENZLAUER BERG

The world’s most popular urban sport is getting a new look at Ding Dong Ping Pong in Prenzlauer Berg. Four people, one palm — let’s go. According to community maps, there are 2,800 publicly accessible table tennis tables in Berlin and almost as many obstacles that make playing challenging. The city dust on the table, the eternal wait until the wind dies down, and, of course, counting the score far too loudly so as not to forget it. And then the rubber comes off the old racket. Nevertheless, everyone loves the rhythmic ping-pong. Waldemar Zeiler and Kian Pariwar feel the same way, which is why they’re paying homage to the playground classic with a particularly aesthetic comeback in yellow: Ding Dong Ping Pong. A table landscape that is fun and high-quality equipment that leaves more room for community. “Ping Pong for everyone” adorns the façade of the club on Prenzlauer Allee. What exactly does that mean? Table tennis around the clock (from 6 am to midnight), seven days a week. All you have to do is register and reserve a table for up to four people.

The weather can’t affect your game; the boards are perfectly illuminated, and the equipment is in excellent condition. The score is automatically counted on a large screen so you can concentrate on the next point. And if your backhand is still causing you problems, book a coach to help you with technical tips. You can even watch a video replay of your game and evaluate your performance with your coach. Want to get started right away, but your friends aren’t that spontaneous? Find playing partners from the neighborhood via the app. There’s table tennis for pros and beginners, for old table rivals, new matches, early birds, and night duelists. It’s ping pong for everyone.

Text: Emma Zylla / Photos: Helmut Sattler

Ding Dong Ping Pong, Prenzlauer Allee 38, 10405 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map

@dingdongpingpongclub

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Shops

CLEAR SHAPES: A NEWLY DESIGNED SPACE FOR JOHANNA GAUDERS COLLECTION #8

Ten years, eight collections, and a space that connects it all. With Collection #8, designer Johanna Gauder is not only celebrating the 10th anniversary of her eponymous jewelry label but also the reopening of her studio in Neukölln in February 2025, designed in collaboration with Christoph Hauf. The design: a symbiosis of jewelry and furniture design, of materials in their raw form, of precise craftsmanship and clear aesthetics. Gauder’s new collection is an echo of this space: 17 pieces of jewelry translate architectural lines into wearable forms – graphical, geometrical, restrained. Even after ten years, Johanna is open to new ideas without forgetting her design language. For the first time, she is working with pavé-set diamonds, set in recycled silver and gold. You can find the collection online, but it’s worth a visit: aluminum, glass, linoleum, Douglas fir wood, no lacquers, no finishes. Instead, the new surfaces are allowed to take on a patina — to bear the marks of everyday life. “I didn’t want a space that simply exhibits, but one that evolves,” says Johanna. An idea that is also continued in the collection. The newly designed studio on Schillerpromenade is not only a place for presentation and sales, but also for meetings and exchanges. Conversations, then ideas, then designs are created at the large table. It’s always about sustainable design with attitude – in form, material, and content.

Text: Robyn Steffen / Photos: Diana Pfammatter

Johanna Gauder, Schillerpromenade 14, 12049 Berlin–Neukölln; map
Find collection #8 here.

@johannagauder
@christoph.hauf

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Shops

CUTE GLASSWARE FOR GIRLS’ NIGHT IN — DISCOVER BLANKSTILL’S UNIQUE DESIGNS

Let’s talk glassware, colors, and dinner parties, we’re just girls after all. Who love getting together on a random Wednesday to host cute dinners, paired with a nice wine or rounds of cocktails – all while gossiping and dancing around your living room. It’s become a ritual for those of us who prefer to stay in. A ritual beloved by five women in Berlin, with a shared love for dinner parties, where Blankstill glassware emerged. Designed in Berlin and handblown in Poland, the vibrant highball glasses are made up of two colors that remind me of dreamy sunsets. Blankstill creates designs that bring a pop of color, personality, imperfection, and mix-matching to any occasion. It’s for those who love to play around and add perfectly imperfect design pieces to the dinner table. “Our glasses are not just functional tableware, but conversation pieces that add a flair to every gathering”. Each glass is uniquely made, making them all the more special. They reflect the cultural elements of Berlin, from random gems in flea markets to unique finds in vintage stores. Berlin and its people are all about unique self-expression as well as intimate settings. Blankstill has captured all of those characteristics and naturally showcases the essence of home-dining. Through contemporary design and traditional craftsmanship, Blankstill has found the perfect balance and created something truly unique. Their online store has twelve different tumblers to choose from, designed specifically to mix and match.

Text & Photos: Ruby Watt

Blankstill

@blankstill_

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Language

FOUR VENUES & INFINITE ART — DISCOVERING THE EPHEMERAL AT THE BERLIN BIENNALE

REI — JAPANESE INSPIRED BAR & IZAKAYA WITH LATE NIGHT FOOD, SAKE & VINYL IN KREUZBERG

TABLE TENNIS FOR EVERYONE AT DING DONG PING PONG IN PRENZLAUER BERG

CLEAR SHAPES: A NEWLY DESIGNED SPACE FOR JOHANNA GAUDERS COLLECTION #8

CUTE GLASSWARE FOR GIRLS’ NIGHT IN — DISCOVER BLANKSTILL’S UNIQUE DESIGNS