the sense of Kreuzberg SO36 district in Berlin (D) -  artist in residence @SOMA Art Space in Berlin  september 2019

City Sphere SO36

the sense of Kreuzberg SO36 district in Berlin (D) – artist in residence @SOMA Art Space in Berlin september 2019

Studioworks - click this title

The studioworks are made in Amsterdam 2019-2022.
At the bottom the text about this series.

City Sphere SO36 - Berlinworks 2019

single works of the cloud installation made in Berlin 2019 at SOMA Art Space.
45x35 cm

Baum, Liegnitzerstr.

45×35 cm
35x25 cm

Schatten, Paul-Link-Ufer

35×25 cm
135x25 cm

Geschichte, Liegnitzer Str. 35

135×25 cm
35x50 cm

Leben, Reichenbergerstr.

35×50 cm
35x25 cm

Schüsseln, Woldemar Str.

35×25 cm
30x25 cm

Feierabend, Maybachufer

30×25 cm
15x30 cm

Balkon, Heckmannufer

15×30 cm

Studioworks - click this title

The studioworks 2019-2022.
45x35 cm

Colors SO36

45×35 cm
40x25 cm

Neo Liberalism, Reichenbergerstr.

40×25 cm
25x18 cm

SO36 Colorcard

25×18 cm
20x20 cm

Bürgersteig, Reichenbergerstr.

20×20 cm
45x45 cm

Kotti, Kottbusser Tor

45×45 cm
20x35 cm

SO36 Genius Loci 1

20×35 cm
20x20 cm

SO36 Genius Loci 2

20×20 cm
60x45 cm

Die Reichen, Reichenbergerstr. 108A

60×45 cm
20x15 cm

Frieden, Reichenbergerstr.

20×15 cm
25x40 cm

U-bahn, Görlitzer Bhf

25×40 cm
35x35 cm

Oranien Platz

35×35 cm
25x25 cm

Hilfe Dir, Reichenbergerstr.

25×25 cm
25x15 cm

Party Laterne, Görlitzer Park

25×15 cm
15x15 cm

SOZI 36

15×15 cm
SO36
SO36 is the old zip code of the eastern part of the Kreuzberg district in Berlin. In september 2019 I captured in SO36 the sense of SO36. On linen I captured that which you as a visitor immediately feel but cannot tangibly point out. I walked, photographed and painted my urban reflections. The atmosphere and the daylight of that area determinde my color choice, and my timebased images of this neighborhood.
The genius loci, the invisible soul of a place was a sacred fact according to the Romans … cherish the identity of a place, they would have said. According to philosopher Peter Sloterdijk, it is we, the residents who shape our own place and therefore atmosphere. We should focus more on “where we are” rather than “what we are,” Sloterdijk said. This place, where we are now and live together, the residential area in a rapidly changing urban district, that fascinates me. Specific city areas in Europe inspire me. On canvas and at a rapid pace I investigate the neighborhood as an atmosphere and as a space creation of residents.
City Sphere SO36 is my ode to the atmosphere, the local soul of the SO36 district. I experienced the fall of the wall in this neighborhood in 1989. Experience the atmosphere of history. The air crackled over the wall in disbelief, full of hope and faith in a united Europe. Now thirty years later, Europe is in a different position. Cities and national identities flatten, while at a local level some neighborhoods claim the space back. Initiatives, protests and new connections arise, local identities. You feel a strong sense of a place, genius loci in these places, they are declared “holy”. Especially in SO36 it is brewing, and change is coming, it is more local than global. Berlin, for me the cultural capital of Europe, has a pioneering role and the place where things can be done differently. Where the visual arts and artists take the space and forge a new local identity.
With each City Sphere, I invite to look consciously at the daily environment, which we humans (un)consciously build together. Awareness of one’s own, local identity leads to a better understanding of the other and the unknown, and results in an all-inclusive society. Through gentrification and one-sided municipal policy, the local soul of urban districts threatens to be swallowed up. I want to hear the soul of the neighborhood whisper again.
CS SO36 in progress

CS SO36 in progress

SOMA Art Space: Presentation of City Sphere SO36 by Baukje Spaltro,

A local intervention curated by Nabi Nara by local artist – spoken words by Dan K Sigurd/Sabine and music by Gregoire Simon

SOMA Art Space 27.09 – 04.10.2019

Liegnitzerstraße 35, Kreuzberg 10999 Berlin somaartspace.de