In between rearranging artworks and taking pictures of happy customers I got the opportunity to chat with the organizers Sofia Nordmann and José Contreras Aguad, who told me about their aspirations and where it all originates from.

How did the BAAM start?

S: “It all started two years ago. We [José Contreras Aguad and Sofia Nordmann] met each other at Monopol, where both of us have our studios. During the pandemic, we organised some BBQs with the residents and noticed that many of them were out of work. Barely making money, as most of them were working in bars, clubs you name it. They lost their day jobs and didn’t sell their art. So decided to organize a little market: Monopol and friends. Just friends and friends of friends, in a small gallery. And it was madness. From the moment we opened it was packed. And it was just the two of us. Doing the bar, sales, and corona stuff. We were running around with our tongues hanging out of our mouths at some point. But it was such a success that we immediately decided that we wanted to do it again. And from that moment it grew. People started helping us out, places reached out to us if we wanted to use their location. It kind self perpetuated from there.”

“We are like a big family. It’s insane how so many different artists come together. Help each other, and get to know each other. In an industry whichever so often sticks their elbows out towards each other. We are replacing artworks constantly. As one gets sold we take it off the wall and add a new one. The exhibition is constantly changing and evolving. And at the same time, it engages people to interact with the artworks. It’s not elitist. People simply take the frames off the wall themselves, walk to the desk, and buy it. It truly feels like we are democratising art a bit more.”, adds José Contreras Aguad.

And just a week later, today and tomorrow actually, the “Paper Baam” takes place at KU’POP here in Berlin. "It will be no framed work as it’s a metal container. So everything will be attached with magnets to the wall. I think it will look super cool!"

Again, prices range from 50 to 5000 Euros for an original or edition. While it’s not cheap, I looked at a broad range of styles and colours. “This one could look amazing inside my kitchen”, I thought when I looked at a painting of a smoking old woman, probably set in Italy as the clichée red and white checkerboard tablecloth made me believe. Art here really is affordable. 

“Affordable does not mean cheap. It’s just saying everybody can find something within their price range. You can find a one-of-a-kind art piece for 50 bucks here.”, Sofia responds to my reaction.