6 Berlin Artists On Connection and Memory to Keep an Eye on

April 17, 2024
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SISSY MARINO
Nicolas Crocetti, Berlin 2024
Nicolas Crocetti, Berlin 2024

Greetings! It's a pleasure to have you join us. I've been diligently exploring the vibrant art scene of Berlin, immersing myself in its dynamic landscape. Our journey has led us to encounter a myriad of artistic narratives intertwining within this ever-evolving city. Berlin has become a nurturing environment for creative minds to flourish, challenging norms and redefining perspectives. Fueled by curiosity, I embarked on a quest to uncover these captivating artists from the Mae community. My intention is to introduce these talented individuals step by step to the world, as they truly deserve recognition for their incredible contributions. Prepare to be captivated by their extraordinary vision...

NICOLAS CROCETTI - THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROVOCATEUR

"Consciousness" - Nicolas Crocetti, Berlin 2024
"Consciousness" - Nicolas Crocetti, Berlin 2024

Nicolas Crocetti is an Italian multidisciplinary artist. His artistic research spans different areas of interest and encompasses multiple media including photography, painting, and installation. His conceptual works are made with the intention of triggering reasoning and dialogue with the public on issues and criticalities that distinguish contemporary society. His practice is characterized by an initial in-depth study of the issues that converge in a conceptual investigation that manifests through a multidisciplinary artistic practice that refuses to limit itself to a single medium. The narrative he proposes aims to present reality differently, to develop a starting point for a dialogue on contemporary themes between the artist, the work, and the public. This approach invites viewers to engage with the artwork on a deeper level and encourages them to consider new perspectives on the world around them.

ANTONIA MARIA PLATZER - SAFE COSMOS CREATOR

Antonia Maria Platzer, Berlin 2024 - Photographer Diana Gabrielli
Antonia Maria Platzer, Berlin 2024 - Photographer Diana Gabrielli

Also known as Softshell Hardcore, Antonia is a multi-disciplinary artist and designer originally from South Tyrol, Italy. Painting, sewing, and AI are their expressive tools, interconnected extensions of each other. Their visual creations explore immersive environments where different characters reside, like radical entities, and magical warriors, that dismantle patriarchal structures with colour and softness. Embracing a cosmos of their own, they manifest a colourful safe haven — a world of complementary living rather than competition.

Softshell hardcore is potentially a lifelong project wishing to reclaim authenticity, and tenderness for those who have been marginalized from our system.

"My Mother, My M(Other) and I" - Antonia Maria Platzer, 2023
"My Mother, My M(Other) and I" - Antonia Maria Platzer, 2023

The painting titled 'My Mother, My M(Other) and I' served as both the namesake and centerpiece of the mid-residential show at the California Institute of the Arts in 2018. It marked the inception of a multimedia installation exploring themes of alchemical transformation, merging opposing forces—0 and 1, the O and the I, nothingness and ego, mother and child—separated at birth and reunited in death.

This interpretation delved deeper into philosophical studies, integrating video performance, sculpture, sound, and an interactive painting alongside drawings from the artist's great-grandfather, who endeavored to solve the mathematical problem of 'squaring the circle.' The artist's penchant for interweaving seemingly disparate subjects from witchcraft, science, philosophy, and personal family history underscored their creative process.

RADIO THOMAS - A PURE INTROSPECTOR

Radio Thomas, Berlin 2023 - Artwork: "Enough", 2022
Radio Thomas, Berlin 2023 - Artwork: "Enough", 2022

Reflecting on his journey, the artist realizes that Radio Thomas isn't just a project—it's an extension of himself. Since his youth, he's been captivated by the wonders of nature and the raw materials that shape the world. Venturing into his twenties, he delved into the technical aspects of various mediums, laying the groundwork for his creative pursuits. Living in Berlin has profoundly influenced his artistic vision. The city's dynamic atmosphere and rich cultural tapestry constantly inspire him to explore new perspectives. In his studio, he merges painting, sound, and whatever material the work needs to articulate his thoughts and observations about the social landscape that surrounds him. Different materials allow him to contextualize the pieces and give him the necessary freedom his art needs. Material helps him to express himself accurately. Based on personal reflections, beliefs, and emotions, his work connects purity, concept, and research. The interdisciplinary aspect, with his background in artistic research, is the backbone of Radio Thomas. For him, the raw canvas and barely used technique put the work into the right light. It is enough!

The process:

Am I enough?

To what extent is my own satisfaction directly related to external influences?

Does it depend on me or on others?

When do I act based on my feelings and when do I try to conform?

These are the questions that were on my mind during the process.

The result was a song called 'Enough'. The series of paintings 'Enough' is the answer.

A purely emotional work. Without thinking if it's enough.

The series is the impulse to always do this.

I created the paintings (acrylic on canvas) by simply trusting my feelings and following my intuition. Without a plan, without a brush. Free forms in mixed colors, painted with the forearm, in between a lot of free space. The individual coloured segments symbolize fulfillment. The white areas represent the space. This work stands for the empowerment to do only what you feel. Because.You are enough! Whether it is enough for others, or whether it will be enough for you in the future, you will never know. But what you do know: It is enough for the moment in which you are happy.

R.DRADA- THE UNADULTERATED OUTSIDER

"Broken Blue Sky" - R.Drada, 2023
"Broken Blue Sky" - R.Drada, 2023

R.Drada (1986), is an American visual artist based in Berlin, Germany. The works of R.Drada are preoccupied with interrogation of freedom and power, articulated through the lens of an outsider. Through the visceral language of paint, Drada lays bare the raw and unadulterated emotions that course through the human condition. Intense and unyielding, Drada's canvases serve as conduits for the expression of anger and despair, capturing the tumultuous cadence of existence with an unflinching gaze.

Amidst the chaos and tumult, there exists a poignant exploration of ruined ideals—a testament to the fragility of aspiration in an inner world besieged by discord and disillusionment. Drada's brushstrokes, marked by their struggle and false starts, evoke a sense of urgency and immediacy, inviting the viewer to confront the harsh realities of contemporary existence with unbridled honesty.

Broken Blue Sky is a remembrance of the breaking of one’s first ideals. It is a challenge to a society that puts the emphasis on changes that can be physically seen: physical development from childhood to adulthood, but not the journey of one's ideals as they emerge through childhood and how they survive, twist and tear in the mindset of adulthood.

SOFIA DIMITROVA - EMOTIONAL COLLECTOR

Sofia Dimitrova, Berlin 2023
Sofia Dimitrova, Berlin 2023

Sofia Dimitrova’s artistic practice intertwines realistic techniques with darker themes, often delving into the exploration of the human body. Her creations function as a potent visual narrative that probes the essence of memory and trauma. The characters in her pieces become vessels for the expression of states of mind and identity, generating misty dreamscapes that are both deeply personal and disquietingly universal, transforming into metaphors for the intangible nature of memory. Her work is characterized by the exploration of traditional materials such as ink, charcoal, and paint. The artist believes in allowing accidents to occur in her creative process, embracing the unpredictable nature of art. Her paintings combine the tangible and the intangible in the shared human experience, offering a unique perspective on the complexities of human existence.

"3AM" - Sofia Dimitrova, 2023
"3AM" - Sofia Dimitrova, 2023

“3AM" is an evocative artwork that delves into the hidden emotions and intimate moments that come alive in the eerie stillness of the night. Through a series of ink drawings and a textile sculpture crafted from bed sheets, the artwork captures the vulnerability, honesty, and authenticity of people during their most private hours. The monochromatic ink drawings exhibit raw and intricate details, revealing the unguarded expressions and subtle nuances of individuals caught in the nocturnal's embrace.

KEVIN "AGRO" POLLACK -  THE REBEL EXPLORER

 Kevin "AGRO" Pollack, Berlin 2023
Kevin "AGRO" Pollack, Berlin 2023

In the pulsating rhythm of urban life, AGRO emerges as a rebellious artist, leaving an indelible mark on the canvas of existence. With each stroke, AGRO echoes the heartbeat of the city, daring to challenge norms and push boundaries. Through art, AGRO invites courageous souls on a journey of self-exploration, offering new avenues for unapologetic expression. The mission is clear: to ignite rebellion as a catalyst for societal change, guiding young minds towards innovative forms of self-expression. Together, AGRO envisions painting a world overflowing with tolerance, multicultural fluidity, and the exotic beauty of a united identity.