GlogauAIR’s open studios invites the public to witness the result of three months of intensive research and production by the artists taking part in GlogauAIR residency program on site in Berlin and online throughout the world. These artists join GlogauAIR to dedicate themselves to the creation of new work and to explore new processes together with an international cohort of artists. 

While each of the artists prepare and produce an individual project, it is also possible to observe topics and themes that overlap among the artworks. Topics such as intimacy, belonging and self-reflection continue to be important themes. The idea of healing oneself or collective healing through art and artistic practices can also be observed in the work produced this term. For many onsite artists, Berlin itself becomes the nexus of their work, from the found objects incorporated into new creations or the discovery of Berlin’s secret histories. Being able to observe these coincidences and influences is one of the most exciting aspects of the open studios, which offers the chance to see all-new artworks presented to the public for the very first time. 

Open studios is the culmination of a program of activities in different formats such as curatorial visits, tours within the city of Berlin, talks and workshops that have provided resources, inspiration, and understanding to enhance their artistic work and create a platform for their career. The entrance level of GlogauAIR is dedicated to exhibition proposals and local initiatives. This term, we open the ground floor project space to a visiting exhibition entitled ‘Animal Games’, in collaboration with the video art platform LOOP, as we continue to form important international ties with other cities and countries. This time and as always, GlogauAIR keeps finding opportunities to develop, exchange and invite conversation on contemporary art and multidisciplinary culture.

Animal Games

Curated by Laura Olea López and Suzy Royal

Western culture has made unquestionable the distinction between natural beings and cultural beings but this selection of videos shows an anthropological approach to the so-called natural world and especially animals. It is a composition of absurd and poetic situations regarding the relationship between humans and nature through play and games.

The group show in GlogauAIR’s project space displays a selection of video artworks that question, in a humourous tone, the capabilities of non-human animals to think symbolically and how that relates to a biological perspective. Observing animals through the lens of games and play gives a sense of absurdity in which repetitive gestures can appear like costumes or rituals.

This exhibition is produced in collaboration with LOOP, a Barcelona-based platform dedicated to the study and promotion of the moving image. GlogauAIR’s curatorial team selected artworks from the video art platform VIDEOCLOOP, which is an archive to support and make visible video artists from around the globe.

Since 2021, the catalogue cover of GlogauAIR is decided by an open call to all of the participating artists, giving them the opportunity to present their work on the cover.

For September 2022, and after carefully reviewing the proposals for this session, the jury selected the image submitted by Martyna Lebryk. You can check here the catalogue:

Catalogue · September 2022