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Poor No More, but Still Sexy? Berlin Seeks Its Art World Niche

April 30th 2019

By The New York Times

Berlin - Most of the World War II bullet holes have been filled in, the legendary 1990s rave venues redeveloped. Rents are rising, and so are block after block of luxury apartments. Tech start-ups are flourishing.

Berlin is no longer “poor but sexy,” as its mayor at the time said in 2003. But with an officially estimated population of 20,000 professional artists, including international stars such as Ai Weiwei, Olafur Eliasson and Sean Scully, the city still has the reputation of being the creative capital of the European art world. How is that reputation shaping up to reality in today’s troubled times?

Last week, some 45 dealerships participated in the 15th edition of Gallery Weekend Berlin, a slickly organized collaboration that gives collectors and curators a sense of the latest in the city’s art scene. Equally important, it gives galleries a chance to make some sales.

“Berlin is an über-cool city. The economics of the city allow dealers to have really great spaces,” said Danny Goldberg, a collector based in Sydney, Australia.