Hitler ordered to build a number of impressive ateliers for artists. Only this one was actually built, and was used by a top Nazi sculptor, responsible for delivering pieces of art to Albert Speer. This is one of the most impressive buildings I have ever been in Berlin. It now houses an exquisite collection of Nachkriegsmoderne art. And it even has a cozy library full of art books available for the visitor. When you get in such a building you feel blown away by the virtues of good architecture, which no picture can convey.
February 15, 2019
February 14, 2019
Sneakers & Abu Dhabi 343/365
Spent the day sitting writing down a review of this amazing volume on sneakers, the Sneaker Bible, by Taschen. And ruminating plans for a project in Abu Dhabi. I have Christo’s latest work next to my desk for inspiration and marveling: the Mastaba of Abu Dhabi.
February 13, 2019
Climbing wall — Zehlendorf 342/365
Yes, I live in the most boring district of Berlin, but it’s worth just for the immediate lake were you can swim in summer. Yet today I discovered perhaps the coolest corner of the neighborhood around the Cole Sports Center, a complex built by the Americans during the Cold War and presumably named after the famous sport facilities of NYU. There is a pool, a climbing gym and tracks for skateboarding/BMX, besides the usual suspects. But most of it is kids oriented.
February 12, 2019
A public warning — Zehlendorf 341/365
Germany is not perfect but at least is transparent. And you notice it even on trees: this one was subjected to an exploration and was found sick. So the municipality is warning us that it has to be cut down. How many times I saw in Mexico nice, healthy, big trees being chopped down just to give space to more cement...
February 11, 2019
Ad — Zehlendorf 340/365
I don’t particularly like German ads, except for two current campaigns: the public transportation company BVG and one of the local soccer teams, Hertha. Both share something in common: they laugh about themselves and underline Berlin’s coolness. This one: “In Berlin you can be whomever you prefer. Even a Hertha fan”.
February 10, 2019
Memorial for the homosexuals — Tiergarten 339/365
Not only Jews were killed by the Nazis, also gypsies, Christians, communists, homosexuals, and many other groups. 100,000 were arrested, half of them sentenced to prison, and 5,000-15,000 were executed in concentration camps. Lesbians were tolerated; foreigners also, except if their partners were Germans. Yet in his memoirs, Simon Laks talks about Nazi soldiers who were active homosexuals in Auschwitz.
February 9, 2019
Christo’s sketch — “Near Sydney” 338/365
I’m thankful to the artothek again, as I now have 3 Christos at home. I specially like this sketch for his wrapping of a beach near Sydney, a city I’d love to visit.
February 8, 2019
Brandenburg Gate — Berlin 337/365
Napoleon walked through this very gate upon defeating the Prussian army. Hegel had seen him, and he wrote: "I saw the Emperor - this world-spirit - go out from the city to survey his realm. It is a truly wonderful experience to see such an individual, on horseback, concentrating on one point, stretching over the world and dominating it". More often than not I think of this when I see this monument.
February 7, 2019
Chairs — Decorative arts museum 336/365
For the very first time I went to this museum, from which no one knows really much. As I was entering the different rooms, the guards woke and stood up. The top 3 floors are relatively uninteresting: way too much porcelain and figurines, but the Renaissance area is okay. The highlight though is the last floor with a little nice collection of contemporary design. Here, an impression of the chairs collection: Eames, Ross Lovegrove, Donald Judd, Frank Gehry (clockwise).
February 6, 2019
Little old town — Berlin Mitte 335/365
There is a little old town in the very heart of Berlin, hiding behind walls: 10% of the hospital from 1710 survived to the destruction of the war and you can walk freely there. The stream has no water, but the atmosphere is as if you were in an idyllic town somewhere else in Germany, not in Berlin downtown. You never stop discovering this city!
February 5, 2019
Pax Bank — Berlin Mitte 334/365
Today I stumbled upon this, the official bank of the German Catholic church. I had never heard of it before, and it’s hidden on a backyard. Coherently, they have invested in the tobacco and preservative industries. I remember the big scandal some years ago: the German bishops owned a porn and esoteric business (Weltbild Verlag). And today, as another cynical wink from God, a guy I used to consider intelligent, told me that he just joined the fucking pax sect.
February 4, 2019
Super Boring Bowl — Kreuzberg 333/365
My Monday started in the worst possible way: watching the most boring Super Bowl ever. And watching Brady winning... again. Germans say they don’t understand American Football: “too complex, too many rules”. This strikes me, since Germany has a complex culture and has infinite and overwhelming rules. It doesn’t make sense. So, let’s just say they don’t like it. It’s 4.30am, time to go to bed.
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