Frédéric Magazine

Frédéric Magazine is a Parisian artist’s collective who use biros, pencils and felt-tips to create a constantly-evolving online magazine. This month, Berlin’s Bongout Gallery space host an exhibition of illustrations from the Frédéric archives.

Since 2004, the 5 founding members have uploaded their eccentric scribblings almost every single day. The illustrations are based on their daily lives, and as an exhibition, they provide a spontaneous quirky universe within the gallery space. Check out Frédéric Magazine here: www.fredericmagazine.free.fr or visit the exhibition itself at Bongout Gallery, Torstrasse 110, 10119 Berlin.

Pigozzi and the Paparazzi

This summer, The Helmut Newton Foundation presents ‘Pigozzi and the Paparazzi’. The exhibition of over 300 snaps explores Paparazzi photography as a form of photojournalism, and serves as “a visual commentary about the evolution of this phenomenon.” The term is derived from Fellini’s character, Paparazzo, in the film La Dolce Vita, and has since become a household name.

Presenting the forerunners and central figures of the “classic” period of Paparrazi Photography (including Pigozzi, Weegee and Newton), the exhibition offers an overview and critical look at the history of a photographic genre dedicated to fame and sensationalism. A genre that continues to feed the tabloids with exclusive reports on the comings and goings of the jet set.

Contemporary paparazzi images are deliberately excluded from the exhibition. This is an opportunity to check out old-school snaps of Mick Jagger, Woody Allen, Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot, Marlon Brando and even Prince Charles, from an age when sensationalist photography was ever so slightly less aggressive.

June 20th – November 16th 2008
The Helmut Newton Foundation, Jebensstrasse 2, D – 10623 Berlin

Images:
Top / Carla Bruni with Jean Pigozzi
Middle / Mick Jagger and Arnold Schwarzenegger
Bottom / Prince Charles with Prince Albert and Princess Caroline

Adventurous

A funny little shop has popped up in a former flower shop pavillion at Brunnenstraße/ Ecke Anklamerstraße: “The Adventures of Kit Carson”. Even if the shop reminds one of a gold-digger city it is difficult to imagine that Kit Carson underwent his wild west adventures dressed in the clothes which are sold here: selected pieces of vintage fashion and up and coming new designers from everywhere (women only, sorry, Kit).
I like the contrast between the rough-and-ready appearance and the fact that you can pay with cash card (at least the sticker says so).

The adventures of Kit Carson, Brunnenstr./ Ecke Anklamer Str., Mitte. Tue – Sat sometimes bewteen 12pm and 8pm, only for the next three months

New Trippen Factory Outlet

 

On 13th June, a new Trippen Factory Outlet will open on Köpenicker Straße in Kreuzberg. Have a look at the photo for details. 

Bye-bye, Polaroid

Usually I don’t do announcements here, but as I recently felt the urge to take some polaroid shots, I was really shocked to read the following invitation by Bongout Showroom, so this exhibition became kind of a personal topic to me…

 

 

The Last Ten Shots

(curated by Bongout & Thibaut de Ruyter)

The American company Polaroid recently announced its decision to stop the production of

its famous instant cameras and films. We are all familiar with the unique noise (gzzzzzzzklok),

the waiting time and the joy of seeing — as if by magic — an image appearing on

the instantly identifiable format: 7,7 x 7,7 cm. More often than not blurred, the subject

partially or wholly out of shot, too bright or underexposed… disappointement was often as

big a part of the game as anything else.

The advent of the digital camera era has rendered this adventure obsolete. Sooner or

later, the Polaroid will become ‘history’, an highly collectible and instantly recognizable relic

from the analog times.

Without nostalgia, we have provided 28 artists with a 600 cartridge containing 10 colour

shots and asked them to shoot their last ever Polaroids. An architectural photographer, a

pornographic one, a conceptual artist, a specialist in self portraits, a painter, and so forth.

All were given the same deal: “Here’s the film, just give us the results! Even if only one

photo satisfies you. Even if it’s blurred. Even if it just looks like a Polaroid...”

——

Artistʼs List

Daikichi Amano (JP), Asia Argento (I), Melanie Bonajo (NL), Thomas Bruns (G), Michael

J. Demeo (USA), Damien Deroubaix (F), Rabea Eipperle (G), Heike Gallmeier (G),

Christian Gfeller (El), G.R.A.M. (A), Annika von Hausswolff (S), Anna Hellsgaard (S),

Jason Forrest (USA), Jürgen Grosse (G), Adam Johnson, Richard Kern (USA),

Harmony Korine (USA), Les Krims (USA), Natacha Merritt (USA), Gaspard Noë (F),

Stephen OʼMalley (UK), Bruno S. (G), Danny

Sangra (UK), Zoe Thorne (G), Wilhelm Turner (Z),

Jean-Luc Verna (F), Eileen Wunderlich (G), Miron

Zownir (G)

——

From May 21st till June 28th 2008

Opening Wednesday May 21st at 7PM

Bongout Showroom

Torstraße 110

Berlin

Germany

Opening hours: Tue-Sa, 12 – 07 PM

Capitalism meets socialism

Commercial at Strausberger Platz on Karl-Marx-Allee.

Best

 

Best shop has already been known for its interesting choice of international fashion designers. Now it has changed the concept to the so-called “6-seasons-concept” to become even more interesting. According to a gallery’s concept it will feature a limited number of young fashion designers for some weeks. Then the whole show will change. Next to the changing shows Best shop offers a permanent range of fashion.

 

Best shop, Alte Schönhauser Str. 6, Mitte, Mon – Sat 12am-20pm, www.bestshop-berlin.com

 

Gorilla

 

“A Gorilla lives in the jungle. When he is hungry, he picks some leaves and eats till he is full. The leaves are raw, always fresh and natural, the fruit as well. He doesn’t eat neither sugar and fat nor other animals. That what the gorilla eats makes him the strongest and most content animal in the jungle.

Do it like the gorilla does!”

That’s the credo of “Gorilla”, a Berlin based fast food chain. It was founded about 5 years ago in Berlin and is starting out to conquer the German fast food market. McDonald’s, watch out! Well, so far there are five branches which indeed look fresh and natural; in Charlottenburg, in Zehlendorf, in Kreuzberg and now, brandnew, also in Mitte (where I finally noticed them).  

If you wanna do as the gorilla does, do it here:

Charlottenburg, Knesebeckstr. 5 | Zehlendorf, Teltower Damm 33 | Kreuzberg, Marthalle am Marheinekeplatz | Mitte, Freidrichstr. 120 und Jägerstr. 35

Mon -Fri 8am – 8pm, opening times at the weekends vary, check out www.gorilla-bio-fast-food.de for details.

Clemens en August in Berlin

Clemens en August, the label which prefers to go on selling tours instead of having stores, will be in Berlin from thursday (3rd april) till sunday (6th april). The temporary store will be located in the gallery Sammlung Sander at the corner of Tucholsky/Auguststraße. As Berlin Berlinale opens on april 5 in Kunstwerke (nearly) next door this is a really well chosen spot! So jump at the chance to do something for your wardrobe and your education at once…

Read the Vogue feature for more information, or have a look at the Clemens en August webpage

The shop will be opened from 11am till 8pm.

Be Hip, Be Hop, Be Berlin.

Since this morning, Berlin’s new image campaign “Be Berlin” is online.

[Be city. be change. Be Berlin]
Have a look yourself at www.sei.berlin.de and tell me what you think…