Los Angeles, August 23, 2011 – There is no better time to visit Berlin than in the fall, when the temperatures are still pleasant and the city’s many parks and tree-lined streets present themselves in full fall color. Traditionally, this is the time when Berliners re-focus on the capital’s rich art scene and enjoy a packed program of events and openings. Five top highlights are presented here:
1. PERGAMON – Panorama of the Ancient City
Berlin’s Classical Antiquities Collection will present Yadegar Asisi’s monumental 360° panorama of PERGAMON – Panorama of the Ancient City. The exhibition devoted exclusively to the ancient city of Pergamon will stage a photorealistic 72’ x 328’ simulation panorama, mounted inside a purpose-built rotunda in the courtyard of Berlin’s Pergamon Museum. It is designed to give visitors an understanding of the fragments of buildings and sculptures on show in the museum. The goal is to present them in their original settings and in context, offering insight into the culture, architecture, and daily life of a Helleno-Roman city during the time of classical antiquity.
An archaeological exhibition of artifacts and excavations from Pergamon (present-day Bergama, Turkey) will complement the display. From September 30, 2011, asisi.de/index.php?id=7&L=1.
2. RENAISSANCE FACES
Masterpieces of Italian Renaissance portraiture are the focus of RENAISSANCE FACES, a highly rated exhibition featuring 15th century artists Leonardo da Vinci, Lippi, and Botticelli, and others. On display starting August 25 at Museum Island’s Bode Museum, the exhibition features stories of beautiful women, merchants, courtiers. It also explores this era's unique artistic riches in the accompanying collection of paintings, medals, sketches and sculptures. Until November 20, 2011.
3. STROKE.ARTFAIR
Focusing on urban lifestyles and environments as the inspiration for unconventional and uncompromising art experiences, THE STROKE.ARTFAIR is gaining traction as the world’s first and only urban art fair. Staged at the historic Postbahnhof, the fair features artists and galleries from around the world. They put classic interpretations of art in the context of today’s everyday streetscape with its graffiti, tags, tattoos, advertising or graphic design. October 14 – 16, 2011,www.stroke-artfair.com/.
4. FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Every autumn, Berlin is transformed into a sea of color and light. That’s when the city’s famous landmarks like Brandenburg Gate, the TV Tower and Berliner Dom Cathedral are illuminated by dazzling lights during the Festival of Lights. The popular nightly light show is complemented by art and cultural events, and special Lightseeing tours by bus, boat or Velotaxi make for memorable fall nights.
5. JAZZFEST BERLIN
Berlin turns into the capital of jazz during the JAZZFEST BERLIN. Presenting a diverse program of traditional as well as progressive jazz, big band and large ensembles, the festival features international talent from American jazz stars to artists crossing the lines between local folk traditions and global sounds. The JazzFest 2011 will put a spotlight on Poland, featuring the country’s Mikolaj Traszka Clarinet Quartet and Atom String Quartet. Homage will be paid to the two accomplished film composers: Krysztof Komeda (for Roman Polanski) and Italy’s Nino Rota (a.o. for Federico Fellini). November 2-6, 2011 at different locations. berlinerfestspiele.de/en/aktuell/festivals/jazzfest/ueber_festival_jazz/aktuell_jazz/start.php.
Go to visitberlin.de/en for a detailed calendar of events.
