so first impressions about berlin. it’s not pretty. it’s industrial-looking, overtaken by graffiti (not wall art, mostly disruptive graffiti), it’s stark, modernist, activist, international, eclectic. it’s less about form, more about substance. for a city chock full of art and artists, it’s incredibly relaxed and accessible. since sept 18th was the last day of the berlin biennale, i got here, took a shower and walked straight to KW institute for contemporary art. more about that later. while walking around, i came upon a tent city with signs that said ‘a better world is possible’ and a rally with people on bikes playing cuban music and brandishing red che guevara flags – it was organized to show solidarity with socialist cuba and people on the street responded with ‘viva cuba.’ it’s like being in an alternate universe. lunch at mogg where many of us were seated outdoors (even though it was raining) and the restaurant offered blankets to those who wanted to feel more cozy. they had a japanese menu today so i had scrambled eggs and ground chicken on white rice with spinach and pickled ginger on top. ‘mogg is housed in an old red brick building, a former jewish girls school on berlin’s august strasse, designed by alexander beers in 1927.’
