Palm trees swaying in the wind, a deep red sunset, deserted streets. In her paintings, artist Simay Keles conveys a feeling we all know too well, longing. Her paintings, currently on display at Scope BLN, are dreamscapes influenced by a Westernized worldview. The scenes may appear idyllic, but they’re painted with unnatural, almost toxic dyes such as neon and cadmium, indicating something sinister bubbling beneath the surface. Austrian writer Ingeborg Bachmann didn’t want to write purely of summertime longing either. In her poem “Enigma” from the sixties, she places her last hope not in the sun’s warmth but in music. Anyone looking for a ray of hope can rejoice, Bachmann’s poem can be viewed until the end of April 2024 — free of charge and accessible to all — on a digital display board above the main entrance to Tiergarten Town Hall. The poem is exhibited by CCA Berlin and the district office of Mitte, alternating with Angélica Freitas’ poem “Nachhinein/Pós”. The presentation will be accompanied by readings, with the next one taking place on 26.03. in the Bärenzwinger, Kinga Tóth and Rafael Moreno, whose poems have already been on display, will present their texts. From Friday evening (22.03.) at Marie 10, British artist Alanna Lawley will demonstrate how the female body is stylized and dissected by society as an object of desire. Based on the practice of intuitive drawing, she creates paintings, sculptures, drawings and texts that describe the complexity of being a woman. Her paintings depict emotional states ranging from agony to devotion — sometimes inspired by tarot, sometimes parietal art. Instead of templates of male longing, Lawley creates self-determined archetypes on paper. With humor and strength, she creates scenes that are relatable to everyone.
Text: Laura Storfner / Credits: Alanna Lawley, Seepage From My Primal Fountain, Photo: Nick Ash; Angelica Freitas, Displayed Words, Rathaus Tiergarten, CCA Berlin, Photo: Diana Pfammatter/CCA Berlin; Simay Keles, Sailor would you sail me back home.
Scope BLN, Lübecker Str.43, 10559 Berlin–Moabit; map
Simay Keles: Sunset Express Tours & Travels Inc. until 30.03.2024
Bezirksamt Mitte, Rathaus Tiergarten, Mathilde-Jacob-Platz 1, 10551 Berlin–Moabit; map
Displayed Words, until 30.04.2024
Bärenzwinger, Im Köllnischen Park, Rungestr.30, 10179 Berlin–Mitte; map
Reading with Kinga Tóth and Rafael Moreno, 26.03.2024
Marie 10 Showroom Jörg Johnen, Marienstr.10, 10117 Berlin–Mitte; map
Alanna Lawley: Seepage From My Primal Fountain
22.03., 23.03., 30.03., 06.04., 13.04., 20.04.2024
Gallery Weekend (26.–28.04.)
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