Being an Arts Management student, I am very interested in experiencing the Berlin art scene and how it compares to Pittsburgh. In a recent article discussing the first annual Pgh Photo Fair, I came across this quote which super excited me:
“In spirit, Pittsburgh and Berlin have a lot in common. They are both cities that were something else and are in the process of becoming something different. Part of that is in their architecture. Berlin has used its architecture to feed its art life, with many pop-up style fairs, shows and installations. I’d love to bring some of that to Pittsburgh.” (Evan Mirapaul).
Lately Pittsburgh has been gaining wide attention for the city’s innovative transformation of urban spaces for art purposes. This quote gave me a new insight on Berlin, and I decided to do a little research on art trends in the German city, to see how they are using older industrial spaces to help transform the city into a cultural capital of the EU.
What I found was exciting. I discovered that Berlin is right on board with most European cities in its use of historical and urban preservation for art spaces, galleries, and museums. For example, Berlin is host to one of the largest underground art centers, Kunsthaus Tacheles, which is an old six story department store where international artists began to squat after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Since then graffiti-strewn building has been transformed into an artist collective with galleries, installation spaces, and bars! Sounds like the Mattress Factory but more gritty and fueled by the counter-culture! Sounds exciting! Also, close to Kunsthaus Tacheles is another underground art hub, Raw Temple, which is situated in a former train terminal, and the newer Radialsystem V is located in the urban center of Berlin in the old water pumping station! This is the Berlin I want to experience & discover!
http://www.popcitymedia.com/features/PGHphotofair041812.aspx
http://www.europe-cities.com/en/1033/germany/berlin/2079_creative_urban_renewal_in_europe/
www.tacheles.info
www.raw-tempel.de
www.radialsystem.de
“In spirit, Pittsburgh and Berlin have a lot in common. They are both cities that were something else and are in the process of becoming something different. Part of that is in their architecture. Berlin has used its architecture to feed its art life, with many pop-up style fairs, shows and installations. I’d love to bring some of that to Pittsburgh.” (Evan Mirapaul).
Lately Pittsburgh has been gaining wide attention for the city’s innovative transformation of urban spaces for art purposes. This quote gave me a new insight on Berlin, and I decided to do a little research on art trends in the German city, to see how they are using older industrial spaces to help transform the city into a cultural capital of the EU.
What I found was exciting. I discovered that Berlin is right on board with most European cities in its use of historical and urban preservation for art spaces, galleries, and museums. For example, Berlin is host to one of the largest underground art centers, Kunsthaus Tacheles, which is an old six story department store where international artists began to squat after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Since then graffiti-strewn building has been transformed into an artist collective with galleries, installation spaces, and bars! Sounds like the Mattress Factory but more gritty and fueled by the counter-culture! Sounds exciting! Also, close to Kunsthaus Tacheles is another underground art hub, Raw Temple, which is situated in a former train terminal, and the newer Radialsystem V is located in the urban center of Berlin in the old water pumping station! This is the Berlin I want to experience & discover!
http://www.popcitymedia.com/features/PGHphotofair041812.aspx
http://www.europe-cities.com/en/1033/germany/berlin/2079_creative_urban_renewal_in_europe/
www.tacheles.info
www.raw-tempel.de
www.radialsystem.de