Domus Arte

Berlin Special

Just got back from an amazing few days in Berlin.

The city has slowly but surely been rebuilding after the devastation of the war and the deterioration during the communist occupation of East Germany. Since the fall of the wall it has reinvented itself in the most imaginative ways.

Over sixty years later, they are still putting Berlin back together which is evident in the constant massive constructive undertakings which continue to take place. What they have acheived is inspiring. Mixing new, cutting edge architecture with buildings that survived the bombs while also slowly rebuilding exact replicas of some of the structures that were destroyed or that fell into disrepair during the Soviet occupation.

Berlin doesn't hide from it's history, instead, it embraces it and weaves it into the city with a beautiful subtleness and humility which is mimiced in the architecture and in it's art.

In order to do this city justice, I'll post a few different stories this week to highlight our trip and to showcase how some Berliners live with art in their own homes. Stay tuned!

The Parliament buildings

Office towers next to an old building

The Esplanade Hotel in Postdamer Platz before and after:

Colour POP!

Designer Karim Rashid's two story home in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan is full of bold choices which teeter between whimsical and sophisticated. While this style wouldn't be for everyone, his use of colour doesn't take away from his collection. His calculated curation is just crazy enough that it works. With all white walls, aside from the ombre pink going up the stairs, Rashid's extensive collection of furniture, sculpture and art all have a place and juxtabose nicesly with the walls, built ins and floors. Have a look and decide for yourself. (All images from The Cut)
We'll be featuring one of Rashid's masterful designs at the Hotel NHOW in Berlin soon, so plese check back!

Jen Man portrait above pink couch

The Kitchen

Painting above crib Gabriel Delponte

Art is Life

Olga Korper found her calling as the director of the Olga Korper Gallery located in an old foundry in Toronto's west end twenty-five years ago. Her living space is an extension of the gallery. When she hosts parties celebrating the artists she represents, she opens the sliding door in her kitchen which divides her home from her gallery allowing guests to move between the spaces. Olga says that "art is life, they are one in the same" and that "there are no borders between my private life and my life as a dealer". While having one's private life intertwined so deeply with work isn't for everyone, we should all be so lucky to be as passionate about our craft as Olga is.

See some photos of her space below and check out a full video house tour here from Canadian House and Home.

Olga Korper in her live/work space

Olga's live/work space in an old Foundry

Olga's living room and dining room

Olga's Kitchen with a Matt Donavan light fixture

Q&A with Gallery Director Sarah Massie

Sarah Massie is the Director at the Nicholas Metivier Gallery in Toronto. She has over a decade of experience in the art world and an amazing collection of her own. See her advice below and check back soon for a tour of her house.

Sarah Massie and her husband Dan

DA: In your opinion, what are the benefits to collecting art?

SM: Collecting art can be a very personally rewarding experience, just like any other hobby and getting to know dealers and galleries can be a very social and engaging pastime. Unlike other furnishings, art does not get "tired" or old fashioned. If purchased for the right reasons - you have done your research on the gallery and artist - you will always feel the connection you felt when you purchased the work and this feeling will in fact become richer over time as you and your collection changes. Hopefully the time and research you have invested in collecting should also result in your art increasing in value.

DA: What’s the best way to start an art collection? Do you recommend building around one large piece or dipping your toe in with a smaller piece?

SM: Starting a collection should begin with researching artists and galleries. The scale of the work should be irrelevant in terms of where to start. As for the financial commitment, it is helpful to have a budget and communicate this to the dealer and they will give you options.

Some of the things to look for when researching an artist are past exhibitions, catalogues, public and corporate collections as well as where this particular work fits within their practice. Is it their preferred medium? What is the series and what is it about?

DA: To the average person, the art market seems saturated. Given that there is so much to choose from, how to you tailor your search and not get overwhelmed?

SM: Start with researching reputable galleries, talk to friends that collect and ask for their recommendations as well as look at local art magazines, blogs, and reviews. Once you have found a few galleries that represent artists of interest, make appointments and ask them to show you a few works by artists you have selected from their website. Narrow you favorite artists and decide and the works you like best. It may take awhile to wait for a work you like in the right scale and price point but be patient. Good galleries will keep in touch and call you when works they think you will like come in.

"You will always feel the connection you felt when you purchased the work and this will in fact become richer over time as you and your collection changes."

DA: How can you tell whether a piece will increase in value or even hold its value?

This is very tricky and you should be wary of galleries that use a works potential to increase in value as a sales tactic. That said, if you are paying $10,000 plus for a work you should be looking for impressive exhibition history, catalogues and collections which will all help with the work increasing in value over time.

Emerging artists can be very rewarding to purchase but are more risky for long term investment.

DA: Who are some of your personal favourite artists?

SM: I am drawn to artists who have an ability to communicate emotion and meaning through colour and the application of colour. These artists include Mark Rothko, Howard Hodgkin, John Hartman and William Eggleston.

DA: Who are some up and coming artists to watch out for?

SM: Some of the younger artists we have taken on at the Nicholas Metivier Gallery include Stephen Appleby-Barr, Keita Morimito and Charles Bierk. I believe they all have very bright futures. I also really like the work of Erin Shirreff, a Canadian based in New York. She is represented by Sikkema Jenkins and they have featured her work the last few times I have visited their booth at art fairs.

DA: What is your personal criteria for buying art?

SM: Usually it is a combination of falling in love with the work visually and finding the story behind it compelling. Ultimately I am not able to stop thinking about it and fear someone else getting it before I do!

DA: Any tips on installing art at home?

SM: Buy a laser level. The mid point of the work should be about 56". Avoid hanging any art in direct sunlight but particularly works on paper.