James-Simon-Galerie Opens in Berlin with 'Nah am Leben' Exhibition

The James-Simon-Galerie on Berlin's Museumsinsel has opened with the exhibition 'Nah am Leben' (Close to Life). Designed by architect David Chipperfield, the building serves as a central hub connecting the island's five museums, offering visitor services and a subterranean exhibition space. The inaugural show celebrates the bicentenary of Gipsformerei, the world's largest plaster cast workshop, founded in 1819 and now holding over 7,000 casts. Curator Veronika Tocha explains that the exhibition examines the relationship between casts, life, and death, juxtaposing ancient casts from Pompeii with contemporary works. Highlights include a reproduction of a Berlin mausoleum wall damaged in WWII by artist Asta Gröting, a cast of Auguste Rodin's 'Bronze Age' near a 3D print of Knut the polar bear, and works by Ukrainian artist Maria Volokhova, who creates ceramic casts of dead animals. Volokhova notes that 3D scanning has sparked a revival of handmade casting. The exhibition runs until March 1 and aims to make collections from Berlin's 19 state museums accessible to the public, while also showcasing local art to an international audience.