Alicja Kwade’s solo exhibition “In Abwesenheit (In Absence)” at the Berlinische Galerie shows her most recent works, which place her in the spotlight, appearing as self-portraits in the broadest sense. Exploring various methodological perspectives to describe her presence in space, Kwade’s heartbeat, the pure chemical elements making up the human body or her fully sequenced genome meet and greet the visitor.

Hagius has transformed a historical post office in Berlin Mitte to a one-of-a-kind sports studio, in which physical aptitude and wellbeing are interwoven in a holistic programme of individual and group training sessions and treatments. Drawing reference to our circadian rhythm, targeted stimulation of the brain and nervous system through light, sound and scent according to the time of day allows for physical assertion that works with rather than against our body. To accommodate the multi-sensory training, Hagius worked with Gonzalez Haase AAS to redesign the historic building into a muted, tranquil space. 

By playing with Sardinia’s lively backdrop of colourful construction and lush vegetation, the architecture duo of Gonzalez Haase AAS created a unique space for the first Modes store in Porto Cervo. In contrast to the island’s hot temperatures, the architects chose to recreate Nordic weather-like progressions by implementing neutral grey shapes and surfaces to cover all floors, walls, and ceilings, complete with curtains made of metallic fibre that add both movement and light reflection to the composition. Across the three floors that make up the space, large display blocks, each unique in their shape and size, were crafted with a palette of one or two colours. Reminiscent of bright “buoys”, their silver surfaces offer an additional neutral background for presenting the retailer’s exclusive garments. Uniform lighting, suspended near the ceiling, contradicts what would be expected in such a climate, calling to reference the cool light of Northern regions.