The
exhibition in one sentence: An exhibition on one thousand years of cultural contacts between Russians and Germans.
I liked: The photo series on today's Berlin Marzahn, an area where a lot of Russian immigrants live.
I disliked: The fact that it is not an exhibiton about Russians and Germans but about Russian and German souvereigns. 'Normal' people hardly ever appear, if so, almost only during the section on the 20th/21st century. The fact that some dull modern photography installation presents the second world war. Was it too difficult to find appropriate objects? Is it still too controversial a topic and only art makes it possible to deal with it?
Favorite
object: The skull of the Steller-manatee which was a huge and peaceful animal living in the baltic sea until it was hunted by men and extinguished.
What about
the exhibition design? Well, diplomatically put: it's getting better from room to room. The archiceture of the Neues Museum on the other hand is fabulous.
Fun fact: Did you know Peter the Great wanted everybody in Saint Petersburg to dress "Western"? He was so serious about it, that he put up figurines with the proper apparel at the entrances to town so that everybody coming to Saint Petersburg would know how to dress.
Parental
advisory: Not necessarily an exhibition for children.
Overall
rate: Njoaaaa. Which means: I was not really convinced. But then I generally prefer small exhibitions, not those that want to teach you 1000 years of history and already have you worn out after 200 years...
Information:
Russians & Germans. 1000 Years of Art, History and Culture.
Sat 6 October 2012 - Sun 13 January 2013
Neues Museum
Bodestraße 1-3
10178 Berlin
10178 Berlin
Opening Hours
Mon -Wed 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Thu 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Fri -Sun 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
The main exhibition texts are given in English.
Link to the exhibition's page.
