BERLIN SYDNEY

2 – 31 May 2025

Local Edition Gallery, Sydney, Australia

Berlin Sydney is a group exhibition showcasing the work of 20 emerging and mid-career artists who live and create in Berlin — a city widely known as Europe’s contemporary art capital. Curated by Sydney-based artist Iman Irannejad, the exhibition emerged from his own experience as an artist-in-residence in Berlin, and brings the energy, complexity, and raw honesty of that scene to an Australian audience.

Through painting, photography, textile, and video works, Berlin Sydney offers a powerful glimpse into the creative lives of artists who are either from Berlin or have moved there from across the globe — in search of greater freedom, artistic growth, and connection. The featured artists come from countries including France, Spain, England, Canada, Iran, the United States, Australia, and beyond.

Berlin has long been a magnet for artists and creatives drawn to its openness, its underground spirit, and its willingness to embrace experimentation. It’s a city for dreamers — for those willing to step outside their comfort zones, face uncertainty, and carve out new ways of working and living in pursuit of artistic clarity and community. For many, moving to Berlin is not just a change of place but a commitment to deeper artistic risk and reinvention.

The works in this exhibition reflect a wide spectrum of perspectives, aesthetics, and lived experiences — each shaped by the unique pressures and freedoms that Berlin offers. Together, they form a mosaic of contemporary creative life in one of the world’s most influential art cities, translated here for an audience on the other side of the world.

Berlin Sydney aims to spark cross-cultural dialogue, celebrate independent artistic voices, and highlight the shared realities of making art across borders

Artists: Isabel Monti, Viki Berg, Oli H Scherer, Amirali Ghasemi, Hseniia Antipina, Jessica Tucker, Jana Jacob, Rolf Schulenburg, Alexandre Levi, Riikka Korpela, Marta Stepek, Sandra Riche, Oscar Ray, Iman Irannejad, Christian Niccoli, Parimah Avani, Maryam Majd, Gleb Bas, Sumiyo Nagai, Thomas Behling

Humans, Beings and Things in Between

Curator Iman Irannejad

29 November to 10 January 2025

Local Edition Gallery

The representation of humans in art has been a central theme throughout history, reflecting shifting beliefs about identity, spirituality, and existence. In ancient Greece, the human figure symbolised ideals of balance, rationality, and perfection, embodying humanist philosophies that celebrated potential and physicality. Across other traditions, such as the ritual masks of Africa or the spiritual murals of Mesoamerica, human depictions merged with divine or supernatural elements, serving as bridges to the unseen. During the Middle Ages, the symbolic and spiritual took precedence, with religious iconography portraying humans as vessels of divine purpose.

The Renaissance marked a pivotal return to humanist ideals, emphasising anatomy, individuality, and rationality. Globally, artistic traditions continued to evolve; Persian miniature paintings depicted poetic narratives, while Japanese woodblock prints captured fleeting human moments with intimate precision. By the modern era, representation fractured, embracing subjectivity and emotion. Surrealism, abstraction, and conceptual art reshaped the human figure, transforming it into a dreamlike, fluid symbol of inner worlds and collective experiences. In today’s contemporary context, the centrality of the human figure has eroded, replaced by beings, characters, and creatures that explore the blurred boundaries of reality and imagination.

The exhibition Humans, Beings, and Things in Between presents a collection of works by nine artists who explore this rich dialectic in unique ways. Paul Rhodes, a psychologist, draws from his deep understanding of modern emotions and inner thoughts, enriching his bold and evocative artistic practice. Ksenia Kirkbride expresses her emotions and experiences vividly and unfiltered, using symbolism and storytelling to craft deeply personal and resonant works. Miro Mackiewicz draws inspiration from everyday life, channelling his fascination with human hands and mundane moments to create surreal compositions that surprise both thought and vision.

Simin Vahedikamal and Jess Curran turn inward, unveiling their own beings in works that invite profound connection and reflection. Joel Peterson and ZART transport us into their dreamscapes, painting surreal scenes and portraits of imagined creatures that blur the lines between the familiar and the fantastical. Their creations feel like fragments of visions, pieced together to tell stories of the unconscious. Helya Jamali and Iman Irannejad explore the intricate paradoxes of humanity, shaped by their own lived experiences. Their works symbolically narrate emotions and conflicts, offering windows into the human condition.

Together, these artists navigate the evolving boundaries of human representation. Their works invite us to see humanity not as a fixed idea but as a spectrum of realities—humans, beings, and undefinable things in between.

Iman Irannejad

Curator

Throughout history, hands have symbolised powerful forces, from revolution to intimate connections, from conflict to love. Miro Mackiewicz has chosen the hand as his main motif for a very personal reason, yet it resonates universally, as hands represent a vital archetype in both our unconscious and everyday lives. Hands in Miro's work, as different forces, shape intriguing complexities and creatures. Miro Mackiewicz's delicate technique and meticulous attention to each curve, form, and colour make his art profound and exciting, introducing us to a bizarre yet familiar world.

Miro Mackiewicz is an artist whose journey began with a fascination for the human hand, leading him to establish Morphand Studio in 2008 as a sanctuary for his clay sculpting endeavours. With each piece, Miro transforms everyday experiences into captivating art, blending craftsmanship with profound artistic expression.

Driven by boundless curiosity and a relentless dedication to his craft, Miro approaches every project with infectious enthusiasm. His evolving style reflects a deep immersion in the present moment, offering viewers a glimpse into his personal reflections and the beauty of ordinary life.

Miro Mackiewicz's sculptures are not just art pieces but windows into his soul, inviting audiences to contemplate the intricacies of existence and the joy of creation itself. Through his work, Miro continues to push boundaries, revealing the timeless allure of human touch and the enduring power of artistic exploration.