Berlin mix of the week. This edition is about an exhibition from Vienna, Berlin Fashion Week, a nomad at home, art after work, one island and 5 museums.
One of my favorite and the first place I recommend to anyone heading to Berlin is this Museum island, located in historic Mitte, in the heart of the city. Every. Single. Time.
Berlin is home to 180 museums and around 300 galleries. And the unique Museumsinsel complex is an UNESCO World Heritage with 5 world class museums – a must see – even if just for sightseeing. Here we have the Old Museum / the Altes Museum, the Alte Nationalgalerie / the Old National Gallery, the Neues Museum / the New Museum with James Simon Gallery, Pergamon Museum and Bode-Museum.
Altes Museum
The oldest museum in the cluster, opened in 1830, and first one visited. Surrounded by Spree river and located next to the Berlin Cathedral, in front of the new reconstructed Berlin Palace / Humboldt Forum.
A classical old beautiful building, and you can already guess what treasures are on display in the museum. Ancient Greece sculptures, timeless jewelry and art from the Roman Empire can be admired.
I decided to visit this art museum one day after my work, that is mostly analytical. While marveling at the pieces inside, I wondered how life used to be thousand of years ago, or how art was valued.. and I felt transported in another time, where not everything is digital. That’s the meaning of an art museum for me.
Alte Nationalgalerie
Altes Museum could have been my favorite if it wasn’t for the Klimt paintings currently at Alte Nationalgalerie. Rarely on loan outside of Austria and first time in Berlin.
An imposing museum with an architecture inspired by Greek temples, and without a doubt, with the most extraordinary exhibition that I have seen in Berlin. Until October 2023, Secessions: Klimt, Stuck, Liebermann is “a comparison of the 3 turn-of-the-century art metropolises: Munich, Vienna, and Berlin”, with over 200 paintings, drawings and sculptures of 80 progressive artists, in Symbolism, Art Nouveau / Secession and Impressionism.
Secession as artistic avant-garde
While the heart of the exhibition is considered the painting Judith I of Klimt, other remarkable pieces for me have been Portrait of Emilie Flöge, Pallas Athena or Die Musik. Some moments felt as a déjà vu from last year in Belvedere Museum Wien.
After visiting a museum, I like to write about it in order to retain the knowledge. I learned that what Klimt was for Vienna, for Munich it was Franz von Stuck, while Max Lieberman “was the driving force behind the Berlin Secession.” Most important, Berlin “was the first to admit women members from the beginning, including Dora Hitz, Sabine Lepsius, and later Käthe Kollwitz”, as mentioned in the exhibition in the section “The freedom of art”.
Alte Nationalgalerie was also the choice for a fashion show of RIANA+NINA, part of the official Berlin FW calendar. In a summer evening, was interesting to see the pieces of the collection, with bold colorful patterns and vintage materials, to be presented next to the poster of the exhibition showing the confident Judith, painted by Gustav Klimt in 1901.
We can agree that fashion is also required in small doses once in a while. While I was fortunate before to see more live fashion shows and fashion exhibitions in several cities in beautiful locations, in Berlin, Brussels, Prague, Bucharest, Munich or Paris, last evening was my favorite.
Neues Museum
The New Museum, far from being new, was modernized after being heavily damaged in the war. The architect behind the reconstruction was British star David Chipperfield.
The museum is hosting the 3,000 years old world-famous bust of Nefertiti and many Egyptians artifacts. The building is linked with the new James Simon Gallery, named after a Jewish citizen, who donated to the Museum Island his art collection. Just as good are the museum restaurant and the big gift shop.
As a major project, in the future, an archaeological promenade will connect four of the museums, including Pergamon.
Pergamon Museum
The most popular and visited museum in all of Berlin, perhaps even Germany, is the Pergamon. Because is simply spectacular. Sadly, I was told the museum will close its doors for visitors from October 2023 for many years for renovations.
Pergamon used to be an Ancient Greek city that disappeared, but still remembered today. Built from 1910 to 1930, the museum has on display Islamic Art collections, houses the monumental Roman Pergamon Altar (180–160 BC), and the Babylonian Ishtar Gate, among other pieces.
Also, the entry ticket for the museums are pricey if you don’t manage to visit them on the traditional first Sunday of the month when is free. However, of the best decisions I took was to purchase the basic annual museum pass, that coats only 25 euro, but opens the doors to over 30 state owned museums, including the 5 ones from the Museum Island.
Bode Museum
Lastly, Bode Museum is located in a different part of the island, with a distinct atmosphere but with a lot of charm. The promenade of the museum, the riverbank and Monbijou park nearby are also a meeting place for berliners. Bode Museum has an extensive sculpture collection and Byzantine Art. Currently, works by Picasso are being temporarily exhibited together with historical Spanish art works.
You just have to see it all by yourself.
Writing these paragraphs was a reminder that I used to learn in school and read books about these museums in Berlin. I am grateful each time I get to walk in this island and feel the history, never taking one visit for granted. Still processing all Berlin has to offer culturally.
Other Fashion stories – Munich – Coffee meets Fashion & Photo journal from Prague.
Travel Journal 
How amazing to have so many great museums all in one place! I have never been to Berlin but I’m definitely adding this place to my list for when I finally visit! Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you. Is an area indeed special and classic, different than other parts of the city that are modern or more alternative. If you ever visit Berlin, let me know please!
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