Guillermo.
”I like to go to the small memorial chapel at Bernauer Strasse and meditate. It's located where the former border strip of the Berlin Wall used to be. The original church was blown up during the division but later reconstructed and there's so much history there. In general I'm just glad to be in this city enjoying my day. Berlin has so much culture, so much to offer. I like to go to the flea markets or just to spend the day with my friends or girlfriend. It's the little things - my best day is every day!” The Protestant Church of the Reconciliation Parish was located within the death strip behind the eastern side of the wall and thus inaccessible, becoming a symbol of the divided Germany. It was destroyed by the East Germans in 1985 and rebuilt as The Chapel of Reconciliation in 2000 after German reunification. It's now part of the Berlin Wall Memorial which stretches along Bernauer Strasse. Stiftung Berliner Mauer (Text originally published for the Yes Wow Museum 2017-03-15.) #Berlin #Berlinstories #Berlinlife #PeopleofBerlin #Streetphotography #Holidayinberlin #berlinairbnb #airbnb #bigcitylife #berlinaccomodation
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After the RAF's (British Royal Air Force) bombing of Berlin in 1940 - Hitler ordered the construction of six Flak towers (anti aircraft towers) to protect the city. Only three towers ended up being built and following the ones erected in Tiergarten and Friedrichshain park, the Flak Tower in Humboldthain park in Gesundbrunnen was the last one to be built between the fall of 1941 and spring of 1942. The G-Tower (Gefechtsturm or the Gun tower) of Humboldthain was topped with heavy anti-aircraft cannons pointing towards the sky but the tower not only served as protection against air raids, it also functioned as a shelter with space for about 15 000 people since it was considered bomb-proof. The cannons themselves were aimed with the help from a second control tower (Leitturm or the L-tower) which was located on the Gustav-Meyer-Allee side of the park. After the end of World War II the Flak towers were mostly destroyed along with many other military structures in an attempt to forget and move on. But due to their massive constructions of reinforced concrete it proved hard to completely erase them from history and therefore some parts still stands. The G-Tower which is the one seen from Badstrasse/Brunnenstrasse as you exit the Gesundbrunnen station was partially demolished but the remaining side is now a well visited lookout point where you can enjoy a breathtaking view over Berlin. Keep in mind as you're making your way to the top - that the hill beneath your feet is actually made out of the debris of the destroyed buildings. The control tower (the L-tower) which was blown up by the French in 1948 remains only as a ruin. If you are eager to learn more - Berliner Unterwelten e.V. holds guided tours into the concrete belly of the tower where three of the seven floors of the bunker can be seen and fascinating stories told. Oh, and if the season allows it don't forget a visit to the beautiful Rosengarten Im Humboldthain at the base of the hill.
(Text originally published for the Yes Wow Museum 2017-03-13.) If you're staying at The Yes Wow Museum or just happen to be in the area why not take a short walk up to Schöneberg and Hauptstrasse 155 to visit one of the most important addresses in Berlin's music history. This is where David Bowie and fellow musician Iggy Pop shared a modest flat between 1976 to 1978 as a getaway from the States to recharge their batteries and escape their spiralling drug addictions. For Bowie this was putting some distance between him and Los Angeles following his The Thin White Duke period where the excess and the fame had taken a serious toll on his general and mental health. In a 2001 interview for Uncut Magazine Bowie said: "For many years Berlin had appealed to me as a sort of sanctuary-like situation. It was one of the few cities where I could move around in virtual anonymity. I was going broke; it was cheap to live. For some reason, Berliners just didn’t care. Well, not about an English rock singer, anyway." Bowie's time in the German capital resulted in the albums ”Low” (1977), ”Heroes” (1977) and ”Lodger” (1979) that are referred to as his Berlin Trilogy even though ”Heroes” was the only album actually fully recorded in Berlin. This took place at the famous Hansa Studios / Hansa Tonstudios which at the time was nicknamed ”Hansa by the Wall” for it's close proximity to the East and West divider. During 1977, Pop in collaboration with Bowie, recorded his solo debut ”The Idiot” and following ”Lust for Life” at the same studio. Today Hauptstrasse 155 shows little signs of it's former famous residents except for a memorial plaque that was mounted on the facade last year, a few flowers, a couple of candles and maybe some scribbled notes from fans. A huge contrast to the days and weeks after Bowie's passing in January 2016 when the whole entrance and sidewalk in front of the building turned into a memorial site completely covered in tributes to a much beloved artist. Greetings from all over the world was left and in the air you could feel a humble silence in celebration and gratitude of a creative life that brought joy to so many. Even though their residence in the city was relatively short – Bowie and Pop have forever made their mark in Berlin's music history.
(Text originally published for the Yes Wow Museum 2017-03-10.) To mark the 500th anniversary of famous Dutch/Netherlandish Renaissance painter Hieronymus Bosch's death - Alte Münze Berlin is hosting the multimedia exhibition Hieronymus Bosch.Visions Alive just a stone's throw away from Alexanderplatz. Upon entering we are met by the quote ”Midway upon the journey of our life I find myself within a forest dark, for the straight-forward pathway had been lost” - a suitable greeting from Dante's ”The Divine Comedy” to prepare oneself for the travel into the twisted world of Bosch. The exhibition brings Bosch's disturbing and beautiful paintings alive with animated graphics projected on huge screens covering all walls to a backdrop of suggestive music. Packed with symbolism and thought-provoking matters this feast for the senses can be enjoyed standing, sitting or walking and dazzles you into a dreamlike state of mind from which you will not return unaffected. Hieronymus Bosch: Visions ALIVE verlängert bis 04.06.2017 is open daily until June 4.
(Text originally published for the Yes Wow Museum 2017-03-08.) The Gentrifier Artist” is the documentary about North American musician Keeley Brineman who came to Berlin in the 90's at a time when the city was bursting with creativity and exploring it's newly found freedom. A natural born entertainer, Keeley found his way to recognition through several different bands but not least as the front figure for the 18-piece big-band Lord Mouse and the Kalypso Katz who took calypso music to the stages of Berlin (and far beyond) when no one else did. ”God damn I'm a gentrifier” he says in the film. ”I move to a place, make it better and move on.” After two decades Keeley recently left Germany to return to the states, leaving a void for everyone who's ever laid ears on his exceptional and highly unique voice. ”I wanted to make this film because of Keeley's strong personality, he fascinates people and he's such an amazing talent. The first time I heard him sing it was some old blues or western songs and I thought I would fall of my chair” says Anna Diath, the aspiring filmmaker behind this intimate portrait. Speaking of the city's music scene today she adds ”There's less authenticity than it used to be but amongst the "noise" you can still find originals, you can find jewels.”
Extra chairs and benches had to be brought out to seat everyone that came down to Friedrichshain's Lovelite Berlin for the premiere of ”The Gentrifier Artist” last Sunday. But fear not if you missed it - a second screening will be held at Artliners Berlin on Wednesday 8th at 20:00. (Text originally published for the Yes Wow Museum 2017-03-07.) |
AuthorI came up with the idea of expanding my photography with Berlin related storytelling. Every street in this city is full of history and every person has a story to tell. ArchivesCategories
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All photos © Kristian Kotilainen 2016-2018.
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