No Comments Written by The Crew on October 13, 2008 – 10:03 pm

When: Now until 5th of Jan

Where: Various

Damage: € 6.00 - € 4.50 reduced

Time: Wednesday to Monday - 10am to 8pm

Berlin is a little grey (to put it nicely) at this time of the year. Some Germans like it, they revel in the extra layers of clothing, the glu wine and an excuse to engage in the infamous German snuggle, but I for one get a little anxious. As an Australian, the concept of a northern European winter is a tad ominous to say the least. I have found some temporary solutions, glu wine works a treat or maybe a ticket to Rio De Janeiro?

Luckily “The Tropics” have arrived in Berlin. Plastic palm trees, fake grass and Franz Ackermann’s “Terminal Tropical” installation offer to make me feel ‘warm’ again.

Bringing contemporary art “into dialogue” is the stated aim of this exhibition. Pre-modern artifacts stolen over centuries by various tribes are assorted into seven themed sections.

The Goethe Institute and Martin Gropius Bau are attempting to distract people from the political and social problems of the tropics and turn their attention to the artistic and scholarly side of the region. It is an exhibition of the the tropics in the twenty first century, showcasing the regions culture and aesthetic complexity.

There are approximately two hundred exhibits with works from over forty international artists in the hope that it will redefine the relationship of the north and south and develop a sense of empathy to the region.

Screenings, panel discussions and lectures will be given through the city. Just make me feel like I’m in Brazil and I’ll be happy!