Elite Traveler May-June 2015

EXPLORE BERLIN

CULTURE & DESIGN

Left and below Meierei brewery; view from the lake; Bottom Park Babelsberg

People watch The artist

Early this year, the who’s who of Berlin’s art scene crowded into St Ann’s, a post-modernist Catholic church turned art gallery, to check out the opening of Alicja Kwade, a 35-year-old Polish artist. On display were mind-bending pieces such as Self Portrait, a framed display of 22 vials that contained all the

elements of the human body. Another piece focused on a white pillar, followed by smaller ones in increasingly destructed states until there was nothing but white dust. Inspired by the world of film, Kwade uses effects normally reserved for movies in an attempt to blur the lines between reality and imagination. Her work, such as Gutter Gems, in which she took stones found on the streets of Berlin and had them cut like expensive jewels, are meant to lead the viewers to question form and materials. Elsewhere in Berlin you can find Kwade’s including the impressive Boros Collection, a private art collection located in a former war bunker completely reinvented and owned by Christian Boros. Kwade is also conceptual pieces in prestigious public and private institutions

THE IDEAL DAYTRIP POTSDAM

Until the start of the 20th century the small city of Potsdamwas the residence of Prussian royals. During the Second WorldWar, its center was destroyed. Afterwards it was controlled (and neglected) by the German Democratic Republic. But now, after a decade of investment and renovations, Potsdam has returned to architectural glory. Its castles, including the Rococo Sanssouci Palace, a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site, have reopened, and behind the restored facades you’ll find lively cafes and unique shops. Either hire a car fromHemingway Luxury Car Hire (from $263 per day), or hire a vintageMercedes KTP at Kaiser Tour. Start at Glienicke Park and end at Sanssouci stopping at the historic lakeside Meierei brewery or the Klein Schloss in Park Babelsberg. hpiluxury.com kaiser.hostingkunde.de meierei-potsdam.de kleinesschloss.de

already starting to make a name for herself on the global

stage, having had shows around the world from New York to Tokyo, including at MACBA in Barcelona and MUMOK in Vienna. Look for her

later this year at the Schirn Kunsthalle in

Frankfurt.