Berlin Moscow / Moscow Berlin 1950 - 2000

"Berlin-Moscow/Moscow-Berlin 1950-2000" - from today's perspective
28.9.2003 - 5.1.2004 Berlin - Martin-Gropius-Bau
3.4.2004 - 15.6.2004 Moscow - State Historical Museum

Berlin-Moscow/Moscow-Berlin 1950-2000

On 28th September the second part of the major exhibition “Berlin-Moscow/Moscow- Berlin” will open in the Martin Gropius Bau. The viewpoint is from today’s perspective back on fifty years of relations in Russian-German art, the focus on the turbulent years between 1950 and 2000. 500 works of art from around 200 artists will be presented on more than 5000m² in specific, thematically-arranged artistic constellations.
Painting, sculpture, video and film as well as installations, some of which have been especially created for the exhibition, illustrate direct differences as well as similarities in East and West in a hitherto unprecedented manner.

The perspective on the second half of the 20th century is, however, less on the cultural exchange between the two cities and countries than on the relationship between the systems after the Second World War with regard to the visual arts.

Pablo Picasso and Willi Sitte, Andy Warhol and Komar and Melamid show clearly that this is not a bi-national art show, but deals more with international debates in art since 1950 up to the present day. More than forty artistic constellations with works spanning three generations await visitors. Baselitz’ “Russian Pictures“, for example, document the treatment and interpretation of Russian archetypes from the Forties to Sixties whilst Thomas Demand and Thomas Scheibitz - both born in the Sixties - are seen as a German-German constellation under the motto „Model: Reality“.

The aim of the exhibition is to free the works of art from their original classifications to allow a fresh examination. The question about the relationship between mass culture and artistic individuality repeatedly takes centre-stage.

A photo review with well-known images from contemporary history and hitherto unknown material leads through more than fifty years between Moscow and Berlin, Berlin and Moscow.

The audio guide, free of charge, takes up the concept of the exhibition. Instead of following a prescribed route, visitors can move freely through the exhibition. On entering a room a short explanation will play automatically which can, if wished, be extended.

Press contact: 030-887 787-13

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