Imaginary Journeys

"Imaginary Journeys" was a group exhibition presenting contemporary art specifically for children. The aim was to make profound and challenging artworks by international artists accessible to children and young people from all educational backgrounds. To this end, a space was created in the Amerika Haus that was specially geared towards a young audience, where everyone could have an individual experience with art. Works by twenty renowned international artists were shown for six weeks in the then unused 500 square metres. In 12 rooms, visitors of all ages found installations, video projections and sculptures, most of which could be touched, climbed on and experienced with all the senses. The exhibition was supervised during its run by so-called tour guides: they told stories to visitors, accompanied groups, provided creative guidance or acted as supervisors. The interactive exhibition was a great success.

Parallel to the exhibition, Lukas Feireiss set up the Institute for Imaginary Islands for four weeks in cooperation with the youth art and culture house Schlesische27 in Berlin-Kreuzberg. 

“Many of these exhibits appeal to children by their very nature.“

Artists
Dominik Lejman (PL), Ellen Harvey (UK), Wolfgang Karl May (DE), Max Frey (AT), Egill Saebjornsson (IS), Ethan Hayes-Chute (US), Kirstine Roepstorff (DK), Michael Johansson (SE), Nina Braun (DE), Katharina Lackner (AT), Rebecca Raue (DE), Konrad Mühe (DE), Olafur Eliasson (DK), Stefan Saffer (DE), Andy Graydon (US), Thilo Frank (DE), Sophie Erlund (DK), Franz Hoefner und Harry Sachs (DE), Sebastian Hempel (DE), Hollie Chastain (US), Guy Ben-Ner (IL), Eduardo Basualdo (AR), Gaby Taplick (DE), Dustin Schenk (DE), David Krippendorff (DE)

Tour guides
Anna Schmidt, Hannah van Ginkel, Kirsten Burger, Sebastian Bordirsky, Marjam Fels, Csenge Kindli, Katharina Hauke, Susanne Bartsch, Meret Glausen, Wanja Kirchhoff-Schäfer, Flora Whiteley, Andrea Stürmer, Amelia Bande, Moritz Sommer, Emma Williams, Viera Kucera, Naemi Schmidt-Lauber, Gergely Lazlo, Madison Mitschke, Julie Freedmann, Tammy Haider, Sonya Strathmann (Empfang) und Tanja Martin (Empfang)

Contributors
Verena Eidel, Dorothee Springorum, Michaela Englert, Anne Hector, Minh-An Szabo, Judith Rehbehn, English Cook, Stefan Saffer, Dustin Schenk, Friedrich Richter, Silvia Todeschini, Natasha McQuiggle, Max Power, Flavio Stigliano, Angela Alves, Peter Kolb

Voices on the exhibition:

‘‘You can't fly here, but the travelling companions are ready and waiting. They patiently explain that you can enter Gaby Taplick's rocket made of cardboard and wood and that Thilo Frank's silver swing is not just hanging from the ceiling to look at. Although the exhibition "ArtPod - Imaginary Journeys" presents contemporary art that has already been seen at biennials, in major museums and galleries” Christiane Meixner, DER TAGESSPIEGEL 18.11.2012

‘‘Many of these exhibits appeal to children by their very nature - there are rockets you can climb on, a swing by Thilo Frank that reflects the sky you fly into on it. There's a ping pong half-pipe by Max Frey through which hundreds of balls clatter and a fountain made of old bathtubs and showers that Franz Hoefner and Harry Sachs have screwed together to create an installation.“ Ilka Lorenzen, Himbeer Berlin 02.11.2012

And we were both excited from the first minute to the end, curious and explored the rooms, art objects and went on a journey of discovery together. Touching, playing, laughing, wondering, asking...it was all there! A wonderful afternoon that stayed in our memories for a long time and kept us busy." Mother of a 4-year-old child

Time period: 3. november to 16. december 2012
Project Leaders/Curators: Rebecca Raue, Laurie De Chiara
Partner: Amerika Haus Berlin, JugendKunst- und Kulturhaus Schlesische27, Mangoldt Farben, mixtvisions Verlag, Amerikanische Botschaft in Berlin, Weber Bank, Liegenschaftsfonds Berlin, Quartiersmanagement City West, PSM Galerie, Konrad Fischer Galerie, Galerie Volker Diehl, Gallery ZAK|BRANICKA, i8 Galerie, Studio Olafur Eliasson