Overload on Art!

Description:

Located in the headquarters of the Deutsche Bank on Unter den Linden, the latest addition to Berlin's museum scene is a far cry from the architectural masterpieces in New York and Bilbao. Yet the works on show in the Berlin branch of the legendary Guggenheim Museum are no less impressive than in its more established peers. The museum houses rotating exhibitions concentrating on 20th century and contemporary art. Every year, a particular artist is given carte blanche to organise an exhibition.

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An ambitious "masterplan" for the Museumsinsel is projected to be complete by 2015. Massive renovation is taking place. A plan also exists for combining the two archaeological museums that reside on opposite sides of the divide created by the befallen Berlin wall. When all is completed, visitors can browse the collections of archeological artifacts and muse at the unique architecture of the five main buildings that make up the complex. No need to wait until 2015 to enjoy the museum's treasures as the Museumsinsel will be open during reconstruction.

Description:

One of four buildings on Museum Island, the Pergamon Museum is home to some outstanding artifacts and is named after the ancient Greek city of Pergamon, whose city walls were excavated by German archaeologists and brought to Berlin. Elegant friezes of Greek figures and gods can be seen, as well as 15 metre high city columns and gates. The Gates of Babylon and other artifacts from the Islamic city are also housed here making the museum a spectacular place to lose an afternoon in.

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Although plans are afoot to radically redesign Alexanderplatz, the square is still dominated by socialist buildings whose architectural merits are highly questionable. The grey and uninspiring Haus des Lehrers is saved only by an impressive 125 metre long mural which wraps its way around the building. Painted by Walter Womancka, this colourful depiction of "the perfect socialist life" is a classic example of the kind of art once promoted by East German authorities for propaganda purposes. Erected in 1964, the building represented a break with the monumental architecture of the Stalin era (see Karl-Marx-Allee) and a move towards a more cosmopolitan and transparent style. Originally built as a congress centre for teachers, the building is now used for exhibitions and cultural events.

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The Village Voice is a cafe, which contains a small library of contemporary American literature as well as exhibitions by local artists. During the summer you can sit outside and enjoy the sun. The café has a good selection of breakfast specials, cakes and other snacks.

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"Opened in 1929 (just three years before Hitler seized power), this art-house film theater soon became a place of refuge for anti-Nazi resistance fighters in the Third Reich. A commemorative plaque in the foyer reminds visitors of those dark days. After the War, the Babylon became socialist East Germany's only art-house cinema. Even after the fall of the Wall, the cinema has remained true to its tradition and continues to show old silent movies, East German classics and other controversial or arty films, all of which should make any film buff's heart beat a little faster. The Filmkunsthaus Babylon (not to be confused with the 'other' Babylon cinema in Kreuzberg".

Description:

Opened in 1997, this hotel in Berlin's historic centre offers first-class service and a unique designer interior. The decor is a melting pot of different historical styles-a restored rococo dining room is situated next to an ultra-modern lounge designed by interior designer Johanna Nalbach. The Art'otel lays great emphasis on the word 'art', with approximately 300 works by German artist Georg Baselitz, bathrooms by Philippe Starck and furniture by Marcel Breuer and Andy Warhol.

Description:

Friedrichwerdersche Church was built in 1830 by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, the architect who provided Berlin with some of its greatest neo-classical buildings including the Schauspielhaus, Altes Museum and Neue Wache. The War left its inevitable mark on the building's exterior, which was renovated in the 1980s and finally reopened to the public in 1987 to coincide with Berlin's 750th anniversary. The church is a fitting home for the Schinkel Musuem. The upper gallery contains a photographic retrospective of Schinkel's work, the ground floor is decorated with statues by Schinkel, Schadow and other artists. Well worth a visit.

Description:

The biggest outdoor gallery in the world, the East Side Gallery runs along the largest remaining section of the Berlin Wall, constructed by the Soviets in 1961 to divide East from West Berlin. When the Iron Curtain fell in 1989 many parts of the wall were destroyed as the city of Berlin was reunited following the end of the Cold War. 160 international artists were invited to paint giant murals along the wall that runs along the River Spree in the eastern district of Freidrichshain. The East Side Gallery has remained untouched for the last 20 years, however its future is uncertain. Restoration is planned however regeneration of the area may threaten this political landmark.

Description:

The Urban Dialogues Association is a charitable organisation which helps integrate the socially disadvantaged and the socially excluded into normal society. One of their most innovative projects has been to turn abandoned shops in poorer, run-down areas into cultural and artistic centres. A number of disused premises near Schlesisches Tor in Kreuzberg have now been transformed into arts centres which organise exhibitions, workshops and talks. The motto: Art can help!

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The catacombs of the disused water storage complex in Prenzlauer Berg have been used for several years as a venue for contemporary art exhibitions. The labyrinth of brick tunnels provides a unique backdrop for some of Germany's most innovative artists. The construction has never been properly renovated (due to lack of funds), and the complex often seemed on the verge of collapse. But fortunately, there have always been sufficient funds to fix the site at least provisionally. Exhibitions take place here during the summer months, when architecture and art unite to create a unique atmosphere enhanced by sound and light.

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Wohnmaschine (meaning "living machine" is a gallery in artist Friedrich Look's own home. Since opening in 1988, Look has worked intensively with young artists from Berlin and elsewhere-between 1995 and 1997, he put on a series of thematic exhibitions. The gallery normally exhibits works which refer to the context of art and deal with photography and space as well as individual and collective roles (eg. in exhibitions such as Architecture and the Modern Mask, 1998).

Description:

This Greek restaurant boasts a large menu, featuring Greek classics along with some original meals, like vegetable cake with yoghurt sauce. Vegetarian food is also available and breakfast (both a warm and cold buffet) is served on the weekends. But what makes this restaurant so special is the spectacular local artwork that adorns the walls. The artwork is also for sale, but the exhibition changes every few weeks so act fast.

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If you are in search of some culture, be sure to stop by Ballhaus Ost for a varied and unique experience. Here you can find musical and dramatic performances, art displays, and dance productions. In addition to the daily events, Ballhaus Ost also offers guests an intimate lounge that is ideal for a rendezvous before and after the performance. Visit the website to see a complete list of all upcoming events.

Description:

Opened in 1997, this hotel in Berlin's historic centre offers first-class service and a unique designer interior. The decor is a melting pot of different historical styles-a restored rococo dining room is situated next to an ultra-modern lounge designed by interior designer Johanna Nalbach. The Art'otel lays great emphasis on the word 'art', with approximately 300 works by German artist Georg Baselitz, bathrooms by Philippe Starck and furniture by Marcel Breuer and Andy Warhol.

Our Local Expert Says:

Set in the Tacheles, the chaotic homeland for 'artists' from all over the world, this dark, grungy cafe and chaotic courtyard attracts an eclectic crowd discussing everything from world conspiracy theories to Barbie dolls. Check out nightly live music.

Description:

Located on the ground floor of Tacheles, the legendary squat-turned-cultural centre, Zapata is a weird, wonderful and way-out establishment typical of Berlin's alternative scene. Decorated with metal and barbed wire, tins and trash art, it is all fairly surreal. Snacks such as are available all day, as is a decent selection of beer. The place really gets going in the evening when hundreds of people gather to chat, flirt and dance. Don't miss the beer garden in the summer.

Description:

Marienstraße isn't normally associated with art galleries. Yet with its run-down and graffiti-strewn turn of the century houses, the street is almost a gallery in itself. This small gallery of photographic art resides in one of these classic old buildings. The rickety old stairs that lead up to the gallery are made of wood, and the wooden floorboards creak as you walk over them. The whitewashed walls make the perfect backdrop for an innovative collection of black and white photographic art.

Description:

This gallery is one of the latest additions to Berlin's arts scene. The first exhibition included an installation entitled The loss of the centre-referring to the neglect of craftsmanship in modern-day Germany as well as to the negative changes taking place in the central Berlin district known as Mitte. Other early exhibitions included unusual works using a variety of artistic techniques, including a puppet show and light show.

Description:

Post-war urban planners loathed the gloomy, densely populated inner-city ghettos - relics of 19th-century poverty-which were until recently prevalent in most major European cities. They dreamt of open spaces and expansive city centres. With this goal in mind, architects began work in 1960 to construct a modern art and cultural centre in the heart of West Berlin. Scharoun's futuristic Philharmonie, Mies van der Rohe's Neue Nationalgalerie and the Gemäldegalerie were all erected as part of a 'Cultural Forum'. Later additions were the State Library, the Museum of Arts and Crafts and the Musical Instruments Museum.

Description:

The Contemporary Fine Arts Gallery (previously known as Bruno Brunnet Fine Arts) has occupied a studio in the Sophien-Gips-Höfe in Mitte since 1996. Artists who have exhibited here over the years include Maike Abetz, Oliver Drescher, Thomas Riff, Blixa Bargeld, Sarah Lucas, Jonathan Meese and Raymond Pettibon. All of these are contemporary artists whose work reflects avant-garde themes as well as the influence of pop culture. Pleasantly situated between two Hinterhöfe (courtyards found in many of Berlin's older buildings), you can sit in one of the outdoor cafés after your visit and enjoy watching the world go by.

Our Local Expert Says:

There's only one thing on the menu here and that's Milchmasthähnchen - delicious free-range chicken, spit-roasted to perfection. Be prepared to eat with you hands - cutlery not included!

Description:

The name of this restaurant means 'hen'. That figures, because this restaurant-cum-pub, located in the Kreuzberg area, is primarily known for its delicious chicken dishes. This specialty is so popular that crowds throng the place waiting to grab a bite of the bird. The beer is another thing that's a big hit among those visiting this place. Hop in and you might return with more friends in tow.

Description:

Opened in 1997, this hotel in Berlin's historic centre offers first-class service and a unique designer interior. The decor is a melting pot of different historical styles-a restored rococo dining room is situated next to an ultra-modern lounge designed by interior designer Johanna Nalbach. The Art'otel lays great emphasis on the word 'art', with approximately 300 works by German artist Georg Baselitz, bathrooms by Philippe Starck and furniture by Marcel Breuer and Andy Warhol.