In 2007, Anton Unai’s solo exhibition turned our Berlin gallery into a live, evolving space where painting, installation and performance art unfolded in real time. One of the central moments was a public painting battle between Anton Unai and Jaybo Monk. After each round, the audience decided the outcome by applause until a final winner emerged.
Anton Unai’s practice blends time, space, the body, and the audience into a single evolving action. Rooted in the spirit of Joseph Beuys, his work embraces spontaneity, improvisation, and creation beyond academic boundaries.
You can watch a full video about his exhibition here:
During the opening of his show in 2007, the gallery became the stage for a live artist battle. Two artists, Anton Unai and Jaybo Monk, painted simultaneously on adjacent canvases, creating a dynamic and unpredictable performance.
The competition was moderated by Benjamin Joon, and after each round, the audience decided the outcome by applause, ultimately crowning a final winner. This event stands as a unique example of performance art and community involvement in the creative process.
Following the battle, a live flamenco performance featuring South American musicians from the artist’s community took place in front of the gallery, further blurring the lines between exhibition, performance, and communal experience.
A wooden plate used during the performance was later tagged by Anton Unai, transforming it into a lasting artwork and a tangible memory of the event.
What you see here reflects how we understood the gallery then and continue to see it today: as a space where disciplines meet, where risk and spontaneity are essential, and where art is something experienced together rather than observed from a distance.
All video footage by Johannes Bock.