From the Berlin Art Link: Nadja Sayej makes Art Criticism Controversial Nadja Sayej has a mission that suits Berlin’s fancy. She first studied visual arts in Toronto, Canada, but quit painting in order to dedicate herself to undercutting the art scene using gonzo journalism. Together with Ryan Edwards and Jeremy Bailey, Nadja Sayej founded ArtStars* in May 2009 in Toronto. By the end of 2010 Sayej brought Artstars* to Berlin to focus on openings at art galleries, institutions and art fairs in Europe. Already, the Berlin art scene is split into lovers and haters of this travel show on contemporary art. No wonder. Nadja Sayej challenges art criticism with her ballsy personality, which paves her way to glory and contempt at the same time. Some call her the Borat of the art scene because of her virtuosic attire, the blatant rhetoric and unexpected appearances at art openings. She scrutinizes Carsten Höller’s reindeers at Hamburger Bahnhof, she gets a spontaneous statement from a tipsy Cyprien Galliard sitting on top of his sculptural work made of Turkish beer cases at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, she chases down Gilbert and George on Potsdamerstrasse and gets a short albeit rare interview with John Waters at the Venice Biennial. One way or the other “Artstars* always gets the interview, don’t you forget it!” Intrigued as ArtUga was with this introduction? Read the entire article here: http://www.berlinartlink.com/2011/07/26/snap-bring-it-on-bitches/
From ArtInfo.com: The Good, the Bad, and the Incredibly Odd Facial Hair at Berlin Fashion Week BERLIN— This season’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlinwrapped up a few days ago, and ARTINFO just couldn’t let the event pass by without weighing in on the good, the bad, and the bearded. Yes, the bearded, and we’re talking about ladies. This is certainly noParis Couture Week. Read the article, look through pictures and runway videos at http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/35207/the-good-the-bad-and-the-bearded-at-berlin-fashion-week/
From Artinfo.com: Stolen Caravaggio Masterpiece Uncovered in Berlin “Two years after it was plucked from a Ukrainian museum,Caravaggio’s 1573–1602 painting The Taking of Christ (or The Kiss of Judas) has been recovered by joint team of German and Ukrainian officials in Berlin. Police arrested four suspects believed to be part of an international art-crime ring in Berlin and twenty more suspects were arrested in Ukraine as part of operation.” http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/35064/stolen-caravaggio-masterpiece-uncovered-in-berlin/ Caravaggio’s “The Taking of Christ (or, The Kiss of Judas)” (1573–1602)