Culture

Visit Art Cologne 2013

Pricey paintings

Even in times of economic crisis, art is still considered a valuable investment. Buying a work by Pablo Picasso is never a bad investment. Austrian gallery Salis & Vertes is currently showing several of his works. This piece from 1965, "Tête d’homme," can be yours for just 3.25 million euros ($4.24 million).

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Empty stares

Stefan Balkonhol's reliefs have simple but visual titles, like "Woman in a Green Dress" and "Man in a Pink Sweater." His sculptures put people in the spotlight, and he creates archetypes that he then alters. The clothing and postures he uses are timeless, and instead of showing emotion the figures stare into empty space. Balkonhol is among the most sought-after sculptors in Germany.

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Sprawling forms

Anthony Cragg is another important and multi-faceted sculptor in Germany. Born in the UK, the award-winning artist has lived for more than 40 years in Wuppertal. He has participated in the documenta art festival in Kassel several times. Pictured is Cragg's "Runner" from 2009.

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On the river

This elegant canoe, with which Romanian artist Adam Chodzko once paddled along English rivers, is now looking for a buyer. The artist had invited people who live on both sides of the Tamar River in Great Britain to join him on his boot trip. The project was part of his research into human behavior. For him, the river also symbolizes crossing borders.

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Isolated art scene

For the first time, a gallery from Havana is exhibiting at Art Cologne. Cuban artist Ricardo Brey lives in Belgium and first got noticed in the 1990s. The objects in his installations have a life of their own. These gloves come from thieves whose hands were chopped off as a punishment for their crimes.

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Spy games

James Rosenquist was, along with Andy Warhol, one of the most significant representatives of the Pop Art genre. For Art Cologne, he selected a work from his private collection. In this piece, he deals with the confusing and mysterious structures of the secret service.

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Expensive pants

Damien Hirst is currently one of the most controversial artists in the contemporary art scene. His huge installations once brought in millions of dollars. At Art Cologne, his painted pair of Levi's 501 jeans is going for 55,000 euros. The psychedelic color explosion is reminiscent of the 1970s.

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Up-and-coming in Brazil

Brazil's burgeoning art market is increasingly showing potential, which is good news for Vik Munoz. He is one of the country's most significant contemporary artists. Munoz's "Obama" is on show at Art Cologne. Last year alone, 145 million euros worth of artworks were sold in Germany, which many of the sales linked to Art Cologne.

Author: Sabine Oelze / kbm | Editor : Sean Sinico

Plagiarism and architecture

Borrowing blueprints

Sometimes architects borrow just a bit too much. A nearly identical version of Zaha Hadid's Wangjing SOHO office complex in Beijing is now being erected in Chongqing. The copyright laws in China leave room for this kind of plagiarism. Both buildings are expected to be completed in 2014.

Plagiarism and architecture

Copy and paste

It's not the first time strikingly similar buildings in China have raised eyebrows. In 2011, the tiny Austrian village of Hallstatt (pictured) was reconstructed in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong. The project was completed, despite protests from the 900-person village.

Plagiarism and architecture

The flip side

After initial protests, the residents of Hallstatt started to see the Chinese copy as a compliment - and something they could use to their advantage. The replica is a marketing tool that can help draw tourists to the Austrian countryside.

Plagiarism and architecture

Iron symbol

Replicates of famous landmarks can be found in other countries as well. Paris' Eiffel Tower, designed by French engineer Maurice Koechlin, is one of the most recognized architectural symbols in the world. Myriad copies of the 7,000-ton iron tower can be found in a variety of locations.

Plagiarism and architecture

Tokyo's taller tower

The Eiffel Tower is a key landmark in yet another city: The so-called Toyko Tower, a TV tower with a lookout platform, was built in 1958 - nearly 70 years after the construction of the Eiffel Tower. The Tokyo Tower was meant to represent Japan's revived economic strength following World War II and is 13 meters (43 feet) taller than its French cousin.

Plagiarism and architecture

California's jewel

What the Eiffel Tower is for Paris is the Golden Gate Bridge for San Francisco. The famous suspension bridge spans the entrance to the San Francisco Bay, one of the major points of entry after crossing the Pacific Ocean from Asia. The Golden Gate has been a muse for Hollywood, having been the site for cinematic murders, secret rendezvous and James Bond's stunts.

Plagiarism and architecture

Small differences

Portugal's Ponte de 25 Abril bears striking similarity to the Golden Gate Bridge. Its name refers to the Carnation Revolution, a military coup that took place in Portugal on April 25, 1974. At first glance, it looks like an exact copy of its Californian cousin, but it has one key difference: Its steel posts have cross-shaped struts, rather than diagonal ones.

Plagiarism and architecture

New York spirit

The Empire State Building is one of the most important landmarks in New York City. Pictured is not the New York version, however, but the Torre Latinoamericana in Mexico City. The 180-meter copy was constructed in the early 1970s and is one of the city's tallest buildings.

Plagiarism and architecture

Seat of government

The Capitol building in Washington, DC is imposing and conspicuous with its large dome. Built between 1793 and 1823, the meeting place of the United States Congress is 229 meters long and 88 meters high at its tallest point. One of a kind - you might think.

Plagiarism and architecture

Havanna's Capitolio

The Capitolio Nacional in Havana was built in the 1920s, based on Washington's Capitol building, by Evelio Govantes and Félix Cabarrocas. It served as the seat of the Cuban government until the revolution in 1959. Today, it houses the Academy of Sciences, the Environment Ministry and the National Library.

Plagiarism and architecture

One-stop world tour

Yet another version of the US Capital can be found in the Window of the World amusement park in China's Guangdong province, alongside the copy of the Austrian village Hallstatt. Numerous landmarks have been rebuilt in the park, including the Taj Mahal, the Angkor Wat temple complex and Easter Island.

Plagiarism and architecture

City of illusions

The idea of rebuilding famous landmarks as a tourist attraction is not new. The Las Vegas Strip is famous for its colorful collection of architectural replicates. The Luxor hotel resembles an ancient Egyptian pyramid, while the New York-New York hotel is decorated with a miniature Statue of Liberty. The city's newer architecture tends to be original, including Daniel Libeskind's 2009 MGM Mirage.

Author: Ananda Grade / kbm | Editor : Greg Wiser