New shows at Neuer Berliner Kunstverein question the influence of the past on the present.“Where Are We Now?” allows artists to examine the artistic, political and philosophical dimension of their situation. Meanwhile the “Thu Van Tran” show explores colonial history and its bearing on the political status quo.The first title echoes David Bowie’s song exploring the late singer’s ties to Berlin. Many artists here take their experience of living in the city as their main topic. Christine Fenzl’s 18 photographs “in Berlin” (2011–2015, archival pigment prints, framed) show inhabitants posing against the cityscape. The series unveils the fabric of experiences and attitudes which make up society.While Fenzl’s photographs are a realistic record, kate-hers RHEE uses art as a lens to exaggerate physical characteristics. In “The Ethnic Hardening Universe or Self-Portraits Exaggerating My Mongoloid Features” (2015, graphite on paper, from “The Multiverse Portraits, 2014–2016”) she examines beauty and its ties to the binary between West and East and different racial characteristics.Thu Van Tran runs March 8 through May 1 2016 and Where Are We Now runs March 5 through May 1 2016 at Neuer Berliner Kunstverein. Information: http://www.nbk.org
↧