Berlin Biennale's Epilogue Explores Resistance Through Feminist and Queer Perspectives
The 11th Berlin Biennale, overseen by curators Renata Cervetto, Agustin Pérez Rubio, Lisette Lagnado, and María Berríos, wrapped up with the theme 'The Crack Begins Within' after a three-month postponement due to the pandemic. Spanning four locations—KW Institute for Contemporary Art, daadgalerie, Gropius Bau, and ExRotaprint—the event showcased thematic chapters focused on overlooked histories. Prior to COVID-19, the program prioritized community engagement and listening. Featured works included 'Marcha à ré' by Teatro da Vertigem, 65 anthropomorphic figures by Mariela Scafati, and installations from Sandra Gamarra Heshiki and Andrés Pereira Paz. The evolving watercolor visual identity was crafted by Till Gathmann. The biennale explored its potential significance in light of the pandemic, which underscored global inequalities.
Key facts
- The 11th Berlin Biennale's epilogue 'The Crack Begins Within' opened after a three-month pandemic delay.
- Curators Renata Cervetto, Agustin Pérez Rubio, Lisette Lagnado, and María Berríos initiated a 'slow opening' program in Berlin's Wedding neighborhood from September 2019.
- Four exhibition spaces presented chapters: The Antichurch (KW), Storefront for Dissident Bodies (daadgalerie), The Inverted Museum (Gropius Bau), and The Living Archive (ExRotaprint).
- Teatro da Vertigem and Nuno Ramos's 'Marcha à ré' documented a reverse car procession on São Paulo's Avenida Paulista on August 4, 2020.
- Mariela Scafati created 65 life-sized figures lying on the floor at KW Institute for Contemporary Art.
- Works at KW included pieces by Pedro Moraleida Bernardes, Florencia Rodriguez Giles, Young-jun Tak, and Carlos Motta focusing on queer and fluid identities.
- Sandra Gamarra Heshiki exhibited paintings from her 'Cryptomnesia' series at Gropius Bau, critiquing European museum collections.
- Visual identity for the biennale was designed by Till Gathmann using watercolor.
Entities
Artists
- Renata Cervetto
- Agustin Pérez Rubio
- Lisette Lagnado
- María Berríos
- Nuno Ramos
- Mariela Scafati
- Pedro Moraleida Bernardes
- Florencia Rodriguez Giles
- Young-jun Tak
- Carlos Motta
- Małgorzata Mirga-Tas
- El Palomar
- Sandra Gamarra Heshiki
- Andrés Pereira Paz
- Castiel Vitorino Brasileiro
- La rara troupe
- Flávio de Carvalho
- Käthe Kollwitz
- Katarina Zdjelar
- Till Gathmann
- Zehra Doğan
- Iman Mersal
- María Berrios
- Agustín Pérez Rubio
- Sara Sejin Chang
- Brenda V. Fajardo
- Shuvinai Ashoona
- Daniel Paul Schreber
- Sigmund Freud
- Julio Cortázar
- The Black Mamba
Institutions
- Berlin Biennale
- KW Institute for Contemporary Art
- daadgalerie
- Gropius Bau
- ExRotaprint
- Teatro da Vertigem
- Museo de la Solidariedad Salvador Allende
- Kunst Werke
- Museu de Arte Osório Cesar
- Museo de la Solidaridad Salvador Allende
- El Palomar
- Mapa Teatro
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany
- Wedding
- São Paulo
- Brazil
- Avenida Paulista
- Cemitério da Consolação
- La Paz
- Bolivia
- Amazon
- Turkey
- Amed prison
- Nusaybin
- Egypt
- Canada
- South America
- Busan
- Netherlands
- Barcelona
- Spain
- Saxony
- Philippines
- Colombia
- Chile
- Franco da Rocha
- India