Leipzig-Berlin

I meet up with Lizzie and we are in the amazing Leipzig School. Lizzie is already there meeting photography students.

I loved in particular the work of two Welsh lads who are at the Master School; Ben Absalom and Sam Bardsley.

Then we went to visit one of the main teachers, Joachim Brohm

His project is called Culatra/Areal. The work is about an Island outside Portugal which has been abandoned and left almost uninhabited; maybe 500 people are left.

Then farewell magnificent Leipzig School and onwards to the Spinnerei

Then to Eigen + Art Leipzig to view Uwe Kowski’s work which has developed to new horizons.

We dropped by the studio of Edgar Leciejewski, I had not seen him since his work was shown in the Library of Babel at the collection in London.

His new work “how to build a sun” was fascinating. His work is showing in many museums and institutions.

Next day I am in Berlin and after a hearty breakfast at Cafe Einstein, it’s straight to work. First stop is to visit Olafur Eliasson’s studio or should I call it Factory? Tim Neuger was also waiting for us to discuss Olafurs fifteen year old outstanding commission. We agreed I have been very patient but he has since then become somewhat famous. He proudly showed us around and explained to us his new works in progress, which looked to me like some secret weapons programme.<br><br>Talking about weapons at Heathrow airport I discover I do not have my passport and manage to retrieve it in record time. Through customs with ten minutes to spare, phew, and stopped by police, my ring is classified as a knuckle duster and dangerous weapon, passport and ticket disqualified. Finally I make it by seconds to the gate.

Then I visit the Biennale. The theme is politics (very original) and the artists are scattered all over the place with their different projects. The project to me looked too playful and I believe that all the artists have had a wonderful time and put their body and souls into this work.

My friend Bev, who is a mature student, took it all the other way and came out of the show shaking. I had to give her a vodka. After this I decide not to visit any more Biennale seeing as I have such little time and concentrate on the Gallery Weekend which was full of surprises and horrific stairs to climb.

Lizzie and I fell in love with the work by Yelena Popova at Figge Von Rosen. Her practice was complete and captivating. She is a Brit even if born in Russia. We will be showing her work in INVITES opening on 5 July.

Yelana Popova in front of her work not one detail amiss from the way she talks, looks, dresses, moves, draws, paints and installs they are all in synch with her practice.

Then off to see Judy at Eigen Art Berlin and there is Martin Eder’s exquisitely repulsive bottoms. But he is a master of his craft even if he can sometimes be too kitsch...

After we stop off at the Clarcher Ballhaus for Pizza...

...we have time to visit Julian Schnabel’s work at CFA. The work is inspired by his film the Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

After dropping by to Mertz Gallery on to visit Torsten and eat some of Olivia’s chocolate and berry pie with Hans Aichinger and at the same time admire his masterful paintings.

We head to Blain and Southern’s new magnificent space.The work of Jonas Burgert “Gift Gegein Zeit” had never looked better.

It was a feast for the eyes!

Some outdoor art or very nice Graffiti

I dropped into Klosterfelde and saw the work of Matt Mullican for the first time in my life. I sense the career of Matt is just about to go on upward projectile.We were in such a fascinating spin as we listened to him talk about his work.

There are 3.5M people in Berlin and I am standing alone at 10pm in the deserted streets of Berlin looking in the window of a tiny antique shop and two London blokes walk towards me speaking a loads of codswallop and then we look at each other and scream it is only my old friends Russell Tovey and Rob Diament. We grab a bottle of fizzy plonk and head back to my apartment. A picture of Russell and Rob in front of our Franziska Holstein painting.

Next day I bump into the Candadian artist Kent Monkman who has an interesting show. He models for me in front of Tonto and the Lone Ranger.

The weather is gleaming and beautiful, hot and gorgeous and we drop by into the leafy suburb where Galerie Buchholz is showing the work of the artist of Matthias Poledna. The exhibition was pink painting after pink painting.

Cindy and Lizzie waving me farewell.It was goodbye leafy hot sunny Berlin and hello grey London. Next week is Frieze New York!

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