Yayoi Kusama at Gropius Bau 2021, photo: Luca Girardini.
Once again Berlin’s museums and cultural venues have had to close their doors due to lockdown restrictions. However, there are still a few hidden gems around for us to continue exploring the artistic side of the city and get inspired in a safe way.
Gallery Weekend took place a couple of weeks ago and many of the participating galleries are still open to the public as long as you contact them in advance and have a negative COVID test. You can check out Gallery Weekend’s website for a full list of participating galleries and artists.
Additionally, we can look forward to some larger exhibitions that have unfortunately had to close for now, but it doesn’t hurt to keep an eye out for when tickets will be available for purchase again.
Here is a list of some fantastic exhibitions – some that you can currently check out, including participants of Gallery Weekend, and some to visit in the (hopefully) near future!
“The Cast Whale Project” at St. Elizabeth-Kirche
This incredible art installation is located in the St. Elizabeth-Kirche and all you have to do is show up wearing an FFP2 mask! No covid test needed. “The Cast Whale Project” by Gil Shachar, organized by Semjon Contemporary, is an impressive life-size sculpture of a humpback whale created in Cape Town, South Africa in 2019. With the backdrop of the antique church, the tragic scene has a beautifully eerie atmosphere that will leave you pondering its meaning. “The Cast Whale Project” is open to the public daily from 11am-8pm until May 14th.
“MAY QUEEN” at PLATTE
A participant of Gallery Weekend, PLATTE is a newly opened interdisciplinary fashion house that is currently housing an art installation by Ma Li. Promoting sustainable art and fashion, the installation “MAY QUEEN” has been created with production waste materials and has turned the space into a statement on the fashion industry that is bursting with color. Visitors can view the exhibition through the venue’s large windows or can go inside with an appointment and a negative COVID test until May 28th.
“Bee’s Planetary Map” at Galerie Thomas Schulte
Another participant of Gallery Weekend, Rebecca Horn’s exhibition at Galerie Thomas Schulte is open to visitors with a negative COVID test and an appointment until June 26th. Featuring recent works as well as creations from the 90s, the kinetic works of art are sure to inspire and stimulate your senses. The 1994 installation “Der Turm der Namenlosen,” an intricate display of violins and ladders, can also be seen from outside through the windows of the building.
“We Had Everything Before Us” at Galerie Judin
If you are looking for something that will inspire you to think about the modern state of the world then you don’t want to miss “We Had Everything Before Us” by Adrian Ghenie at Galerie Judin. On display until July 10th, Ghenie’s art is a response to the endless stream of information during the age of the Internet and integrates this modern sentiment with the traditional medium of painting. Also, a participant of Gallery Weekend, the exhibition at Galerie Judin is currently open to the public with a negative COVID test and an appointment.
“DARK MATTER”
Dark Matter is an audiovisual exhibition by light artist Christopher Bauder and his design studio WHITEvoid. Inside dark industrial halls are seven impressive installations that aim to transport you to another world with their kinetic lights and 3D sound systems. You can read more about it in our article where we had the opportunity to interview the mastermind behind the vision. Unfortunately, the official opening date is currently unknown, but you can sign up for their newsletter here to be notified about ticket sales.
Studio Berlin at Berghain
Berlin’s beloved Berghain has become home to Studio Berlin since the start of the pandemic. If you’ve ever wanted a chance to get into Berghain, how about checking out the incredible collection of artworks that are now living there? Visitors can expect to find photographs, paintings, videos, music, and large installations that touch on various themes, including commentary on the pandemic and the arts, making use of the club’s halls and dance floors. Unfortunately, the exhibition is currently closed, but news of its opening and ticket sales will be posted on their website, so be sure to stay tuned.
Jakob Kudsk Steensen at Halle am Berghain
This summer, Berghain’s Halle will open its doors to art lovers and anyone who’s always wanted to see the halls of the famous club but never made it inside. Have you ever wondered about the beginnings of the area that ultimately transformed into the vibrant metropolis we call home? You will be able to find out all about the mighty swamp that started it all in an upcoming exhibition that will be available to visit in the Halle am Berghain starting 10th July 2021 until 26th September 2021. The artwork is commissioned by the Berlin LAS foundation. The artist behind the installation, Jakob Kudsk Steensen, is exploring minute details of Berlin’s long-gone natural landscape in order to create an astounding space. The installation with elements of VR will be an immersive experience that is designed to bring the viewers closer to the natural history of the region and highlight the intersections between the prehistoric and current landscape elements.
“Yayoi Kusama: A Retrospective” at Gropius Bau
The exhibition at Gropius Bau displays contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama’s works from over 70 years. Kusama’s otherworldly polka-dotted creations and her Infinity Mirror Rooms are an immersive experience that will certainly inspire you to look at the world through a more creative lens. As well as these more famous works, the exhibition also explores Kusama’s early paintings and lesser-known paintings. Gropius Bau is unfortunately closed until Berlin’s museums can officially open again, but in the meantime, you can get a look at the digital opening of the exhibition on their website.
Yayoi Kusama: A Retrospective, Installation view, 2021, Gropius Bau, photo: Luca Girardini
“Van Gogh – The immersive Experience” at Station-Berlin
Another immersive art exhibition to look forward to is that of “Van Gogh – The immersive Experience.” I’m sure many of us are familiar with Van Gogh’s work, but this exhibition will fully encapsulate you into his world as beautiful paintings such as “The Starry Night” are projected on the walls of Station-Berlin. The gorgeous exhibition uses impressive light technology while teaching you more about the artist’s life. Once museums and cultural events are able to open again, this is one you surely won’t want to miss.
“The Mystery of Banksy – A Genius Mind” at Station-Berlin
Also at Station-Berlin, “The Mystery of Banksy – A Genius Mind” features reproduced artworks of the anonymous artist’s most famous graffiti, photographs, videos, prints, and installations. Celebrating Banksy’s work, visitors can get a closer look at his creations as well as learn more about the history of the mysterious street artist and his impact on the art world. This is yet another exhibition we are certainly looking forward to when lockdown restrictions loosen up again in the future.
