Die Balkone 2, Scratching the Surface
An exhibition in Prenzlauer Berg windows and balconies, 30. April – 2. Mai 2021.
While renovations of the building continue, Prater Galerie will be exhibiting on the construction fence at Kastanienalle 7-9, 10435 Berlin, from April 30 till May 9, 2021, together with the collective x-embassy. We are thereby participating in the art action in public space “Die Balkone 2”, which is taking place in Prenzlauer Berg for the second time. Artists who have limited opportunities to go public in the lockdown show their work on balconies, in windows and on facades.
The second issue of „Die Balkone“ explores and questions the image of Prenzlauer Berg and its history in East German underground and dissident culture. With a focus on the rich history of the gallery, we bring to view the voices of actors who have had a significant influence on the gallery. In a series of posters, past protagonists of the gallery will have their say.
The municipal Galerie am Prater opened its doors in 1967. For decades it has been run by strong, unconventional figures – both artists and art historians. It became one of the most popular meeting-points of the lively East Berlin art scene. After its temporary closure in 2007, and following comprehensive renovations, Prater Galerie will reopen in autumn 2021 as a place for art, culture, and the neighbourhood.
Additionally, Prater Galerie hosts a work from Kollektiv x-embassy.
UMRISS is an artistic research project that includes an artists’ publication and poster. Since 2019, members of Kollektiv x-embassy investigated questions relating to art and memory in urban spaces in Prenzlauer Berg and Pankow. This included dialogues with female artists and activists who were active during the years shortly before and after 1989, as well as today. UMRISS points towards interconnections between places, narratives, and lived urban histories. Coinciding with Die Balkone 2, the publication will be made available online at https://kollektiv-x-embassy.com/.
The poster serves as both a map and a table of contents for the publication and will be visible at the following sites: Cnr. Ossietzkystr. / Am Schloßpark, at the Göhrener Ei, at Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, at Wasserturmplatz, Hermann-Hesse-Str. 19, at the Kulturbrauerei (cnr Schönhauser Allee/Sredzkistr.), in Bürgerpark Pankow and around the former Wall at Nordbahnstr., Schönfließerstr. 21, Grabbeallee 33 (Kurt Lade Klub), Grabbeallee 34, Kastanienallee 7–9 (Prater Galerie), and in Bucher Forst.