Berlin

It was a special time in Berlin. I had the opportunity to interview Pia Lanzinger, as well as visit Checkpoint Charlie and the Jewish museum.

Pia works on site specific paticipatory arts projects. She has done a number of projects with elders, and has an amazing wealth of knowledge. It was wonderful to hear about her method of working and committment to her art.

http://www.pialanzinger.de/text/inhalt.html

Pia Lanzinger at her studio in Berlin

Saw this Chappie at Checkpoint Charlie...

http://www.mauermuseum.de/

The Jewish museum is a spectacular piece of architecture, with its sloping floors and walls and voids. I've never been anywhere quite like it. It was interesting to see the varying thoughtful ways of storytelling, from using recovered objects of Jewish families from the concentration camps, to stories of their grandchildren represented in light boxes with audio snippets, to room installations. I spent the whole day there, but felt to do it justice you would need at least two days.

http://www.jmberlin.de/main/EN/homepage-EN.php

I also visited an exhibition on 'Obedience' while I was there. I was 15 room installations on the theme of the story of Abraham and Isaac, when God calls Abraham to sacrifice his son, but at the last moment stops him. This story is represented in Jewish, Christian and Muslim tradition.

The exhibition was so unusual, and multi sensory. Fascinating and intriguing yet uncomfortable and dark. Walking through the rooms on my own meant I become totally emersed in the world that was created. It is very hard to explain and so check out the links to get a flavour.

http://www.jmberlin.de/main/EN/01-Exhibitions/02-Special-Exhibitions/2015/akedah.php