Contemporary Fine Arts is pleased to present an exhibition of works by Bernd Koberling featuring paintings from the years 1968 to 1992.

As one of the few native Berliners (born in 1938), Koberling has never shown an interest in the themes of urban life. His Nordic landscapes and sceneries are created in Berlin, though he repeatedly escapes the city through travels to Iceland, Scotland, and Lapland. Volcanic terrains, block lava rock, cormorants, nesting birds, landscapes, beach workers, whales, and metamorphoses—these subjects seem far removed from urban reality. In contrast to the dominant urban world, he presents a self-contained and ever-present natural reality. It is the immediacy of nature, more tangible in Arctic regions than in landscapes shaped by human intervention, that defines his work.

And yet, does a painter today not embrace escapism when depicting poppies, cormorants, whales, or river estuaries in the midst of a metropolis? The question ultimately turns on the questioner, for perhaps escapism is the only salvation for those striving to survive in the complexity of city life. Koberling consciously affirms this kind of escapism; even the ivory tower has its positive function, as it offers individuals the opportunity to reconnect with the elemental.

This exhibition has been made possible through the generous cooperation of a Berlin-based private collection. Over nearly 50 years of collecting, with acquisitions spanning this entire period, a body of more than 40 paintings and numerous works on paper has been assembled. From this collection, we have selected 14 paintings for the exhibition. It is also important to note that all works on display are not for sale.

For Bernd Koberling, CFA, and the Berlin audience, it is a rare privilege to experience these works once again.

Our deepest gratitude goes to the Berlin Private Collection, whose remarkable openness and commitment have made this exhibition a reality.