Berlin Diary: The Politics of Fun

Installation view of The Politics of Fun with Rirkrit Tiravanija's pad thai station at left.

Alas, my vacation is drawing to an end; I fly back to the States on Monday. The last few days have been amazing, highlighted by an interview I did with Rirkrit Tiravanija and a visit the next day to Das Haus Der Kulturen Der Welt (House of World Cultures), for the opening of the exhibition The Politics of Fun, featuring Tiravanija and artists from across Southeast Asia. The party featured pad thai prepared by Tiravanija and other Thai artists (the historic final meal for this project that launched Tiravanija to art-world fame in the early 1990s), music by the Bangkok band Futon, and a first glimpse of the exhibition, which included works by Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook, Michael Showanasai, KYTV (Kill Your Television), and others. Thailand's Wit Pimkanchanapong had gallery visitors construct garland-selling girls out of paper. Tonight we're going to the launch party for the new issue of Tiravanija's magazine oVER at the gallery Neugerriemschneider.

Pad Thai served in the gallery.

Garland Seller by Wit Pimkanchanapong

Futon