Cinema
70 Years of Berliner Festspiele

Berlin Fieber

Wolf Vostell, Regie Ulrike Ottinger, Berliner Festwochen 1973
1973 / Colour
Recording of an environment by Wolf Vostell created as part of Aktionen der Avantgarde (ADA I, 1973) by the Neuer Berliner Kunstverein e.V. in collaboration with the DAAD and the Berliner Festspiele

The painter, sculptor and happening artist Wolf Vostell co-founded the series of events ADA – Aktionen der Avantgarde, which was initiated 1973 by the Berliner Festwochen together with the Neuer Berliner Kunstverein. Ulrike Ottinger followed these actions with her film camera.

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A dark blue car in the upper left of the image is driving on a sandy path covered with large white fabric tarps. The car is observed by a standing crowd in the right half of the picture.

Ulrike Ottinger, “Berlin Fever”, Environment by Wolf Vostell, 1973/2014. Film, colour, sound. Film still

© Ulrike Ottinger Filmproduktion | Arsenal – Institut für Film- und Videokunst e.V. | The Wolf Vostell Estate

  • 11 min 4 sec

“ADA - Aktionen der Avantgarde“ was the umbrella title for a group that came together at short notice in 1973 at the Neuer Berliner Kunstverein to create a model for experimental art events. ADA was based on the idea of superseding traditional forms of exhibition. ADA would not be conceived by ‘organisers’ but by artists. ADA would not be anything fixed, that would be ready for the public on the opening day and be served up unchanged for another four or five weeks.” (Jörn Merkert, Ursula Prinz)

The artist Wolf Vostell takes part in the first edition of the event series ADA with his environment “Auto-Fieber” and the happening “Berlin-Fieber”.

“Driving a car is psycho aesthetics.” (Wolf Vostell)

© Ulrike Ottinger Filmproduktion | Arsenal - Institut für Film- und Videokunst e.V. | The Wolf Vostell Estate

Part of the Berliner Festwochen 1976, organised by the Neuer Berliner Kunstverein