The “Haus der Kunst,” or literally the “House of Art,” drew a sizable crowd on Thursday with its free admission. I enjoyed the bold composition and color scheme of this piece, “G.R.E.S.” by Brazilian artist Mulambö.
The exhibition on display included mixed-media pieces. These shirts were accompanied by a video of the performance piece that documented their creation.
In order to maximize gallery space, the museum has renovated the bunker, which was used to protect both people and art from bombings during World War II.
Relics from the original function remind visitors that the museum is continually engaging with confronting and overcoming, while not forgetting, its past.
One gallery was dedicated to an audio experience. The room may have been spatially empty but was filled with sound and an intense glow of either red or blue.
This aluminum foil type room with colorful, stringy masses hanging from the ceiling was the most interactive and memorable.
This neon light installation was another eye-catching piece.
The entry colonnade was emphasized with dramatic lighting.
Sunday’s clear blue skies and the vibrant green trees made for an enjoyable stroll through Munich’s “Nordfriedhof,” or “North Cemetery.” The main chapel was a stunning centerpiece to the cemetery’s scenery.
The architecture felt Mediterranean, but perhaps the nice weather contributed to this impression.
Between the architecture, sculpture, mosaics, and botanic masterpieces, historic cemeteries are fantastic sources of art.
The reason for my (some would say macabre) outing was to find the grave of the architect I am researching. On the left you can see a photo of Hitler visiting Troost’s grave in 1934. The stone marker was understandably altered after the war and you can see its modern day appearance on the right.
While surrounded by sculptural artwork, I took the opportunity to quickly sketch a mourning angel.
The weather has been cool and rainy, most of my floormates are away during their break, and the archives are overbooked. Needless to say, there is not much “exciting” going on here, but I have been taking that time to get work done from the comfort of my room. I decided to combine two weeks into one post to maximize interest.
The first week was highlighted with a Zoom call to a fellow Notre Dame School of Architecture and Fulbright Alumna who is currently living and working in Berlin. It was interesting to meet someone with these connections. I also spent one morning in the State Archive and one evening doing Zoom Yoga with a few Fulbrighters. Two different nights I played cards with the few floormates who are around. Saturday evening Kacper, his brother, and I went to Mass and then hung out with Kacper’s brother’s girlfriend at her apartment. On Sunday night Kacper and I ate pizza while watching a movie.
I braved walking through pelting rain on Monday to meet Samantha, a Fulbright friend, for a goodbye lunch since it was her last full day in Munich. I benefitted by gaining some of her leftover groceries and home goods that she didn’t want to take home.
The rest of the weekdays were dedicated to work time with breaks in the evenings to hang out with Kacper. The Haus der Kunst, a contemporary art museum, has free entry on the first Thursday of the month, and my motivation for going was two-fold: to enjoy art and to examine the building. The museum itself is one of the three remaining buildings designed by the architect that I am studying. It was originally an art museum for Nazi propaganda and housed the “Great German Art Exhibit” and the “Degenerate Art Exhibit,” defining what art was acceptable and creating yet another way to ostracize those whose sympathies contradicted Nazi ideals. Immediately after the war, the building was used as an American Officer’s Club before returning to its function as an art museum.
The sun was shining on Sunday, creating a great mood for going to church, working, cooking carbonara with Kacper, and going to the “Nordfriedhof,” or “North Cemetery,” for sketching.
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