The Künstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin is running the exhibition “Here-Elsewhere: Eight Enchantments to Transmute Time and Space (此地-他方：八種時空轉渡之術)” until Mar. 2, featuring works by eight Taiwanese artists. Through sculptural works that explore Taiwan’s construction and architecture, the exhibition aims to enhance cultural exchange between Taiwan and Germany by showcasing Taiwan’s history and societal transformations.
Künstlerhaus Bethanien is a significant organization for contemporary art in Berlin. It occupies a former hospital that closed in 1970 and was gradually transformed into an international hub for artistic creation and exchange under the support of Berlin’s community and cultural organizations.
Liu Chun-lan (劉俊蘭), the exhibition curator, remarked that while Taiwan and Germany have different historical backgrounds, both nations face similar challenges in globalization, technology, and cultural preservation. Through the exhibition’s artworks, which transcend the barriers of time and space, she hopes to foster deeper dialogue between Taiwan and Germany, she added.
Lin Yu-cheng (林育正), one of the participating artists, observed that both Taipei and Berlin experience a clash between new developments and old traditions. “Berlin is seeking a new balance between the old and the new. The remaining graffiti and historic architecture reveal traces of the city’s ongoing push and pull in its development,” he noted.