Germany’s capital is a cultural centre and renowned for its edgy art scene and modern architecture. To help you plan your trip we have highlighted below our recommended haunts for all you art lovers…
Graffiti & Street Art
After the construction of the Berlin wall it became an act of defiance and frustration for citizens to paint the wall to express their opinion. If you visit the wall now, although a lot of new art has been added, you can still trace the historical and political changes that have been documented over the year within the graffiti. Today, not just on the wall but throughout the streets of Berlin you can see some of the best street art in the world, in fact the capital even has the official title “City of Design.” Graffiti artists come from all over the globe to use the city’s buildings as their canvas – some of the most amazing pieces include: Kreuzberg’s Cosmonaut, a huge astronaut by French artist Victor Ash and the XOOOOX’s black and white stencils created from fashion magazines. There is even a Twitter handle you can follow that posts photos of the city’s latest tags as they’re added to this unique, colourful urban landscape.
Kupferstichkabinett (Museum of Prints and Drawings)
Home to the largest graphic print collection in Germany, Kupferstichkabinett treats you to a visual feast of Modern, Classical, Pop Art, Conceptual Art and Minimal Art by masters such as Altdorfer, Botticelli, Grünewald, Rembrandt, Dürer, Schinkel, Menzel, Picasso and Warhol. Make sure you allocate plenty of time to learn about all the drawings, pastels, aquarelles, oil sketches, topographic images and illustrated books on display.
Pergamon Museum
World famous for its archaeological artefacts, the Pergamon is located on Museum Island and is in fact three outstanding museums in one. You will discover a staggering collection of classical antiquities, as well as treasures from the ancient near east including the 6th century Ishtar Gate of Babylon, decorated with animal gods. Not to mention a trove of Islamic art such as colourful woven textiles and precious carpets from Iran, Egypt and the Caucuses.