This exhibition brings together videos from the collections of Neuer Berliner Kunstverein (n.b.k.) and Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI). The works on display reflect on the social, political, and cultural changes that have shaped the cities of Berlin and New York.
A video art exhibition at Goethe-Institut New York organized in collaboration with Neuer Berliner Kunstverein (n.b.k.) and Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI) presents a selection of works depicting various aspects of city life in Berlin and New York. The videos on display range from the mundane to the whimsical, and touch upon the more bizarre side of city life, such as the origin of urban legends, or offer a cynical analysis of notions of cultural supremacy. City Scenes: Video Art from the Collections of n.b.k. and EAI is open from November 30, 2023 to January 31, 2024.
The exhibition is curated by Zachary B. Feldman (Goethe-Institut New York), Anna Lena Seiser (n.b.k.), and Karl McCool (EAI). EAI and n.b.k. have been collecting and preserving video art since the 1970s. The works on display span from the 1970s to the present and reflect on the social, political, and cultural changes that have shaped the cities of Berlin and New York. Some of the artists whose work is featured are: Stuart Sherman, K. H. Hödicke (with Cornelia Balcerowiak and Helmut Wietz), John Miller, Ira Schneider, and Lawrence Weiner.
The exhibition offers a fascinating glimpse into the diverse and creative ways that video artists have responded to the challenges and opportunities of living in the city. It also invites us to reflect on our own relationship with the urban environment and how it shapes our identity, memory, and imagination. Whether produced as a result of a DAAD fellowship, n.b.k. or EAI production, or independently funded, these works speak to the interconnectivity of Berlin and New York City as metropoles for the creatively minded, resulting in unique and robust art scenes.
EAI currently has a show up at 80WSE that also features work from their collection. n.b.k. recently opened the exhibition If the Berlin Wind Blows My Flag, which delves into the artistic scenes in West Berlin before the fall of the Berlin Wall, based on the history of the DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program.
For those interested in viewing City Scenes, please visit the Goethe-Institut New York website for more information and to book a free ticket. The exhibition opening takes place on Thursday, November 30 from 6pm to 8pm, with remarks by the curators and some of the artists.