Berlin's Cultural Rebirth: Humboldt Forum Opens, Neue Nationalgalerie Reopens, and Galleries Launch Mies-Themed Shows
Berlin's cultural scene is undergoing significant changes with various new openings and events. The Humboldt Forum museum debuted in late summer within the reconstructed Berlin Palace, igniting discussions on restitution. After being closed for six years, Mies van der Rohe's Neue Nationalgalerie has reopened, featuring a €140 million renovation by David Chipperfield Architects and an exhibition by Alexander Calder. Klaus Biesenbach has been appointed as the new director, signaling a move towards more extravagant programming. Commercial galleries have reacted with 'Mies in Mind' exhibitions, including displays at Nordenhake and Neugerriemschneider, while Esther Schipper presented Etienne Chambaud's first exhibition. Kunst-Werke's 'Zeroes and Ones' highlighted female artists. Earlier, the sonambiente berlin txl festival took place at Tegel airport, alongside a farewell for the Bierpinsel tower. Additionally, the new Berlin Brandenburg airport has opened.
Key facts
- The Humboldt Forum museum opened in late summer in the reconstructed Berlin Palace, a seventeenth-century baroque building.
- Mies van der Rohe's Neue Nationalgalerie reopened after a six-year closure with a €140 million refit by David Chipperfield Architects.
- A loan-heavy Alexander Calder exhibition at the Neue Nationalgalerie includes public sculptures, mobiles, maquettes, and chess sets.
- Klaus Biesenbach, cofounder of KW Institute for Contemporary Art, was announced as the new boss of the Neue Nationalgalerie.
- Commercial galleries launched 'Mies in Mind', a series of simultaneous exhibitions referencing Mies van der Rohe's work.
- Esther Schipper presented Etienne Chambaud's debut show with icon paintings, lighting panels, a bronze sculpture, and a scent installation.
- Kunst-Werke's group show 'Zeroes and Ones' used algorithms as an organizing principle for non-digital artworks by women artists.
- The sonambiente berlin txl sound art festival was held at the closed Tegel airport, featuring artists like Susan Philipsz and Emeka Ogboh.
Entities
Artists
- Susan Philipsz
- Blixa Bargeld
- Emeka Ogboh
- Ayesha Tan Jones
- Rosa Barba
- Alexander Calder
- Jorge Pardo
- Heimo Zobernig
- Etienne Chambaud
- Lutz Bacher
- Sturtevant
- Tishan Hsu
- Mies van der Rohe
- Lily Reich
- Yvonne Rainer
- Donald Judd
- Sadie Plant
Institutions
- Humboldt Forum
- Neue Nationalgalerie
- David Chipperfield Architects
- KW Institute for Contemporary Art
- Kunst-Werke
- Nordenhake
- Neugerriemschneider
- Galerie Nagel Draxler
- Esther Schipper
- Berlin Palace
- Palace of the Republic
- sonambiente berlin txl
- Berlin Brandenburg airport
- Tegel airport
- Bierpinsel
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany
- Lagos
- Mars
- US
- Austria