Berlin Biennale

The eighth edition of the Berlin art biennale (29 May-5 Aug) concentrates on a variety of approaches to the city – the built-up environment, its residents, the relationship of the city with labour and the influence of the 18th and 19th centuries on the present city.

This year the curator is Juan A. Gaitán, a Canadian/Colombian who is based in Mexico City and Berlin. He trained as an artist and art historian at the University of British Colombia and the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in Vancouver.

Each edition of the Berlin Biennale tries to find a new approach to the artistic life within the city and the choice of curator this year has made for a more international, less inward-looking outlook. Gaitán commissioned 45 new works for the event.

The biennale has extended its venues this year and has moved out to different parts of the city. It is based at four centres, Haus am Waldsee, Museen Dahlem (part of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin group of 17 museums), KW Institute for Contemporary Art and Crash Pad at the KW Institute, a multi-purpose room by Andreas Angelidakis (which was specially commissioned for the biennale). It opened in January and is also being used as a space for other biennale events and discussions.