SCHNITZELJAGT - PAPER CHASE, BERLIN 2008
"You are here"You are here is the title of the first work of the cycle made by Swiss artist Alexander Bühler for the exhibition project Schnitzeljagd. You are here describes an exact geographic position – in this case the Brunnenstrasse, which in recent years has become a synonym for Berlin’s promising emerging art scene. The question “where” has always concerned gallerists and among them are the protagonists, the brave ones and those who go with the flow. There are plenty of gallery miles everywhere. What has been affecting whole quarters and streets has now reached global dimensions – Berlin or New York. Maybe London, Paris probably not and then of course there are the even more exotic destinations like China. Colonialized by art.
For the time being, the Brunnenstrasse is still in a class of it’s own, and, what is even more exciting – it is bringing the big wide world to Berlin, bit by bit.
“Schnitzeljagd”, in English “paper chase”, is a game many might remember from their childhood days. Played in two groups – those who hide something and those who search for it. The idea for the Brunnenstrasse is similar: the curator is the one who hides something, the gallery visitors become the seekers and the works by Swiss artist Alexander Bühler lead the way through the Brunnenstrasse. The works were produced by the artist during a residency in a London gallery, near Vyner Street, another popular and young gallery mile that has many parallels to the Brunnenstrasse. During his residency, the artist produced a new work each day and the works will have been displayed in Brunnenstrasse in exactly this sequence. The artist combines everyday objects with drawings to form collages. Characteristic of each of the works are the small wooden pieces, which can also be read as “hints” during the Schnitzeljagd.
As opposed to a solo exhibition in one of the most popular “art streets” in Berlin, the works by Alexander Bühler are spread across 19 galleries. They position themselves almost like a parasite in the galleries. To a certain degree this notion reflects my observations and the dynamics I have experienced in the Brunnenstrasse. It must inevitably be noted that those galleries who have opened more recently in Brunnenstrasse, strive to be part of the whole and also to have a slice of the cake. However, so far the co-existence of the galleries has worked well and they all make the most of the common geography. Through conversations I have gained many insights, ranging from sceptical views to unbeatable enthusiasm. Even more interesting was to see how each of the galleries position themselves in terms of one another.
In the beginning I expected about 10 galleries but eventually there were over 20 art spaces. Aside from the established and well-known galleries I came across various concepts and intentions. There is a constant coming and going – but one thing is for sure: the phenomenon Brunnenstrasse is alive and there are still more galleries to come, not only from Berlin.
Curated by Lisa Bosse