From May 15 to 25, 2024, the “Berlinage Residency” took place in Berlin for the first time, a meeting of international collage artists to explore the city, work and exhibit together
„Collage more closely mirrors reality than any other art form. To be alive is to construct, to selectively choose from an infinitum of objects and ideas, internalize, then reassemble into anew whole, a life. Living is collaging.” (Nathaniel Whitcomb)
We are constantly flooded with images. Real ones – a face at the bus stop, a poster on the side of the road, a façade – virtual ones – a dream beach, a beautiful dress, a dinner. Some are real, some are constructed, the boundaries are fluid. What do we do when they overwhelm us? How do we create meaning from the constant excess?
Collage is one possibility. Selecting, sorting and assembling what seems meaningful to me is an act of self-empowerment.
„Having the structure of a residency and the need to produce for a show forced me to pay closer attention to my own artistic voice. I will admit it was a challenge watching other group members seamlessly move from one collage to the next, but I was eventually able to make a couple of pieces that I think were successful. Walking around the city on the architecture and street art tours, as well as scanning for imagery and texture was a more liberating way to experience a city. When I am traveling purely for tourism, I am curating an experience to retell to friends and family or documenting for family archives. The objective of the residency made it easier for me to focus on what matters within in the context of my own art practice and for that reason I believe it was a much more fulfilling experience.“ Cindy Borges Warshaw
Space in the AquabitArt Gallery in Auguststraße was limited and we used every bit of it
At work (from left to right): Rosanne, Dawn, Monica, Adam
Adam, Bettina, material girls behind paper mountains
Cheryl, Cindy, Cloé
Lots of work (and some chaos) later: a successful show
Collaboration with Berlin Collage Collective
Durning the 10 days of the residency every participating artist made a work for Berlin Collage Collective in the signature format of the collectives circle challenges.
https://www.berlincollagecollective.com/shop/berlinage-special/
Collective Collage Work:
Deutscher Turn- und Sportbund der DDR – Mitgliedsbuch
(German Gymnastics and Sports Federation of the GDR – Membership book)
