From savage lions to monstrous gorillas, elegant animals are exceptionally crafted like an Audubon ibis. But look how graciously rendered these lovely watercolors are. Don't let Walton Ford's 19th century elegance fool you. Look closer and you'll be pleasantly disturbed. A master of natural-history illustration, the Berkshire-based artist's very first European show opened last month at Berlin's Hamburger Bahnhof. "Bestiarium," which runs through May 24, includes a series of 25 large-scale works created over the past two decades. A plume of smoke billows from the charred tail feathers of a gorgeous peacock in "Eothen." White wolves surround a blood-thirsty buffalo in "Le Jardin," based on one of American Indian painter George Caitlin's sketches. Each image is the result of extensive research, and each one tells a detailed narrative usually involving allegory and commentary on colonialism.
Take a journey through Ford's weird, wonderful world during your visit to the German capital. Housed in a former train station, the Hamburger Bahnhof is one of Europe's most exciting contemporary art museums. It's within walking distance of The Westin Grand, Berlin, and a quintessential stop on your Berlin itinerary. On your way back to the hotel, take a stroll through the Tiergarten, a former royal hunting ground, and look at the pigeons and squirrels in a whole new light.
SPG.com

More











