abc to present around 130 individual positions in contemporary art with an extensive artistic program

With its innovative, artist-centred format, abc is consciously focused on artistic practice. Each invited gallery is specifically asked to realise a single position of contemporary art. Rather than presenting their particular programs, the galleries present themselves in their capacities as the producers of select artists. This year abc will also be reinforced by an expanded program of events; it will be a platform for economic and cultural exchange and a meeting point for the international art world and the broader public.

Around 130 emerging and established galleries have been invited from all over the world. Alongside German and European galleries, 2013 will also see participation from exhibitors in North and South America, Africa and Asia. The line-up includes new works and premieres from artists such as Nina Beier, Maria Eichhorn, Ryan McGinley, Jan Peter Hammer, Mathew Hale, Erwin Kneihsl, Susanne Kriemann, Michele Di Menna, Michael Riedel, Robin Rhode, Ricarda Roggan and Marinella Senatore. The modular architectural concept responds to the spatial conditions of each individual work and provides a structure which is both clear and open, and particularly well suited to the presentation of installations, sound pieces, performances and video screenings.

The large number of performative or time-based works will produce a stimulating panorama which will be augmented by conversations with artists and events taking place across the site. Events at the Station at Gleisdreieck will be supplemented by a spatial structure which is set to play host to numerous international project spaces. In addition, the artist’s book fair Miss Read will again be at abc this year. For the second time since 2012, after taking place at KW Institute for Contemporary Art for three years, their international exhibitors have been invited to present their recent publications as a further highlight in abc’s diverse program.

Further information, the program and the finalised list of galleries and artists will be announced shortly.


History
abc is a private initiative by nine galleries in Berlin: Galerie Guido W. Baudach, Mehdi Chouakri, Galerie Kamm, Klosterfelde, Meyer Riegger, Galerie Neu, Neugerriemschneider, Esther Schipper and Zak Branicka. For its debut in 2008, the galleries invited visitors to the Station Berlin, where some 75 positions from sculpture, installation, and projected images were shown. The following year focussed on the presentation of models for art in public space at the Akademie der Künste at the Tiergarten under the title “def – drafts establishing future”. In 2010 abc chose the Marshall Haus at Berlin’s convention center as a venue. Under the title “light camera action”, the exhibition examined the complex issues of all things cinematic within contemporary art and the related aspect of performance. 2011– under the motto “about painting” – abc returned to the Station Berlin, presenting around 120 contemporary positions on painting, as well as installations, works on paper, videos, photographs and sculptures with a contextual interest in this classic medium. In 2012, galleries have been asked to submit their own positions. New York’s not for profit “Artists Space” has been invited to curate two “interventions” as well as organizing a series of keynote lectures parallel to the 5th edition of abc. Furthermore abc hosted Miss Read, Berlin’s annual Independent Publishing Festival, at the premises.