Art Forum Berlin

This big art fair, held in an exposition center like those we have in the states, blows Art Chicago out of the water. Mostly european, the theme of the show is "About Beauty" and as the title infers, there is plenty to see. Beauty yes, pretty, not always. The breadth of concept and execution and the mix of knowns and unknowns made for a 4-hour tour that left me exhilarated, not exhausted. A sample of galleries and the works that I thought were the most interesting/ useful to me:

From Arndt & Partner, Berlin: my favorite exhibitor. Each artist has a strong concept and the pieces are also visually "beautiful."

From Arndt & Partner, Berlin: "Goddess with the Head of a Phallus"

From Arndt & Partner, Berlin: both pieces are made of pigskin. The wall piece, pig hair intact, is made of the Louis Vuitton logo in pattern.

Ellen de Bruijne Projects/Akinci, Amsterdam: This artist interests me because of the visual tactility of the slick plastic surfaces. Also there is something seductive about the stacking of the canvasses in a cartoonish way. It seems mechanical/industrial and tactile/random at the same time.

Anita Beckers Gallery, Frankfurt: This butter sculpture takes on a serious subject: classical sculpture. Or does it...

From Frehrking Wiesehöfer, Koln: These paintings on plastic seems to practically drip off the wall.

I have to finish this tomorrow. I have more work to do tonight. There are many more photos to come.