Whether it’s an U-Bahn ride or a session in the bathtub, a good podcast can enhance any part of your daily routine. In the first of a series of features, we have gathered five art and design podcasts that offer inspiration and entertainment in equal measure. First up is 99% invisible, a show that tells the stories behind everyday design and architecture hosted by American producer Roman Mars. The series takes familiar things – from cul-de-sacs to libraries – and reflects on their design histories and significance. Next up is Berlinische Galerie’s Kunst in Berlin hosted by gallery director Thomas Köhler, who hears from artists that have had their work shown at the Kreuzberg art venue. Highlights include a conversation with Olaf Stüber, co-founder of artists’ cinema project Videoart at Midnight, that takes a look at Berlin’s lively video art scene. Staying in Berlin, Was mit Kunst is the podcast from influential city gallerist Johann König that lifts the lid on the art world with interviews featuring artists, curators and critics. Worthwhile listens include visual artist Alicja Kwade and the ever-entertaining Lars Eidinger. For design lovers, The Crit from American magazine Disegno is a new podcast packed with thoughtful analysis and reporting. Hosted by Disegno’s journalists, it includes topical stories from the design world plus deeper dives into issues like alt-right architecture. Closer by, Charlottenburg’s Villa Grisebach auction house is home to Die Sucht zu Sehen (Addiction to Seeing), an interview podcast where artists, musicians and authors tell the stories behind their works. Hosted by journalist Rebecca Casati, the fortnightly show has already heard from the likes of photographer Juergen Teller and film director Edward Berger. These conversations and stories are just what you need to get your cultural fix as we eagerly await the return of the city’s arts scene. Happy listening!

Text: Benji Haughton / Gif: Chloë Galea

99% invisible, Kunst in Berlin, Was mit Kunst, The Crit, Die Sucht zu Sehen

Though the doors of Hamburger Bahnhof are closed, the lights are still very much on with the gallery’s special online program running throughout December. For those sceptical about online art: rather than just replicating the gallery experience, this series uses the web medium to create something new. And so starting tonight (03.12.2020 19h) is Twilight Hours, a video cooperation with United We Stream where DJs and musicians play amongst exhibitions in the Bahnhof. The audiovisual mixes are audacious: Katharina Grosse’s exhibition It Wasn’t Us is matched with music from Panorama Bar DJs Tama Sumo and Lakuti, transforming artworks into stage sets. Already online is a podcast interview from American sound artist Christine Sun Kim (also a Berghain alum) who explains in sign language her works in the exhibition Magical Soup. This art-music union is most striking in the advent concerts from Rundfunkchor Berlin, who also perform amongst Grosse’s colors and shapes. Ave maria is the first of four performances, and makes for beautiful – and extremely poignant – viewing. (Text: Benji Haughton / Photos: Art4All, Jens Ziehe & Ina Niehoff)