Streets of Mitte # 4

There is an unimposing but fantastic book by Patrick Nguyen and Stuart Mackenzie which depicts the history of our streets 100 times better than I could do it at this point. It’s logical, finally both of them are a) real experts on the subject and b) were free to fill 400 sites to illuminate the topic in every single way. The Gestalten Verlag published it and so it’s no wonder that this book is an aesthetic tidbit!

I read about the book in the august’s issue of Musikexpress. There was a street art special entitled “Against the wall” comprising 8 pages. Street artists just as Blu, Os Gemeos, Shepard Fairey, Zevs, JR and Faile are not only quoted, there is also a short text about them and their works. Although this was actually not the reason I bought it (I was totally interested in reading the interview with Arcade Fire and listening to the absolutely good CD inside) I still liked this little excursion. And now there is something like a pleasant anticipation for Beyond the Street. You can buy it second-hand via Amazon from 36 €!

Related articles: Streets of Mitte # 1 | Streets of Mitte # 2 | Streets of Mitte # 3

text & graphic by Eugen Braeunig

Long afternoon of the Museums of the Letters

Before the long Berlin museum night is taking place tomorrow the Museum of the Letters is showing the legendary movie Helvetica by New York-based documentary filmmaker Gary Hustwit.
On the invitation which entered our letterbox on thursday it said that there would be original Swiss cheese as well. Isn’t that nice? Furthermore the freshman amongst Berlin’s museums serves a light and fruity Grüner Veltliner. We think that’s perfectly it! Not only for typography lovers…

Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 13, Berlin Carré, 1st Foor
Free entrance! Donations encouraged.

Helvetica, 2006, 80min
starts 13:00, 14:45, 16:30

WWW.BUCHSTABENMUSEUM.DE

text by Eugen Braeunig

Even after several years Berlin can really still surprise me. I wouldn’t have thought that! And even if you cannot be everywhere in person, you still have the internet and loads of videos that make everything appear much crazier and more comical than it actually was. Originally I was looking for material to create street art in Berlin. However, I ended up with many funny, crazy and interesting videos of various performances. Especially on vimeo you find a lot of random, interesting stuff. I have three examples.

Performance with the headline “Ritualistic magic and Eroticism” (at Art Berlin Contemporary):

Click here to view the embedded video.

The guys with the Label bpitch control are WE LOVE (die boys are musicians, graphic desigerns, performance artists und video artists):

Click here to view the embedded video.

Femme Facade und ReveRso, Performance on the occasion of the vernissage of the photographer Jürgen Gassler, Galerie Martinski Fine Art:

Click here to view the embedded video.

text & photos by Eugen Braeunig

Let’s just assume we knew exactly how to distinguish between good and bad films (just like Kabel 1 once did). Let’s just pretend taste was something universal. Because that always gives you the right to sell subjective rankings as objective truths. And that’s pretty convenient.. ; ) So here comes our Top 10. Click on the title and you’ll get a trailer, click on the director and you’ll get some more information. We are happy about every addition!

1. Was nützt die Liebe in Gedanken (2004), by Achim von Borries
2. Little Miss Sunshine (2006), by Jonathan Dayton und Valerie Faris
3. Mitte Ende August (2009), by Sebastian Schipper
4. Swimming Pool (2003), by Francois Ozon
5. Y Tu Mamá También (2001), by Alfonso Cuarón
6. The Virgin Suicides (1999), by Sofia Coppola
7. Easy Rider (1969), by Dennis Hopper
8. Cashback (2006), by Sean Ellis
9. (500) Days of Summer (2009), by Marc Webb
10. My Summer of Love (2004), by Pawel Pawlikowski

text by Eugen Braeunig

Summer isn´t over yet, and so´s the festival circus, and “fo sho” there are some gems to explore before we pack the tents away and the soil on our boots turn to snow.

Click here to view the embedded video.

For example Tauron Music Festival in Katowice/Poland.  In it´s 5 year and with a just killers – no fillers concept on ex coal mining site Tauron attracts top electro and experimental acts as well as a crowd of musical gourmets to come to this thriving region of Germanys friendly neighbour. So far Fever Ray, Flying Lotus, Jamie Lidell, Amon Tobi, DJ Krush und  Roots Manuva had found the way to Katowice, and this year is no exception: : Autechre, Gonjasufi, (our local heroes) Moderat, Pantha Du Prince,Prefuse 73, and a lot of excellent new acts to discover.

Keen on a road trip weekend? We give away 2 festival tickets (no travel or accomodation) for all three days, you only have to answer the following question in the comment section of Mitteschoen on Facebook until Do. ( 26.08) 5 pm. and you will take part in the lottery: In what location did legendary Metal Hammer Festival in Katowice took place recently? Good luck everybody!

Festival Website and Info City Impressions Google Maps

Click here to view the embedded video.

Enter the Void is Gaspar Noé´s new movie. The director of the tour de force film Irreversible also wrote this story about the siblings Oscar and Linda who take a walk on the wild side of Tokyo´s nightlife. Whoever saw Irreversible knows that one didn´t see the drastic 20 minute long rape scene coming, that turns the rest of the film into one violent opus about the human condition. So as little as the trailer of IR unveils about the horrors to come, as much the super aesthetic trailer of ETV holds back. But it is expected to be some exceptional 160 minutes. The film opens on August 26. Only for adults.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Drones get quite a bit of attention these days. The remotely controlled flying objects have the reputation of being a coward´s weapon. The Parrot Mini-Drone from AR Drones is the toy verion of a drone and perfect for annoying people. Like these golfers. And for some reason you get the feeling that it is excactly these type of guys that swing the iron with not a single worry on their mind, while their drones make some poor people duck and cover at the other end of the world. But: You reap what you sow.

Also very nice and not easy to find is the children’s shop Klein und Winzig in the Veteranen Straße 24. A must for every shopping addict. Especially at the moment, because everything is offered at half price.

For those who want to save some money instead of spending it, buy the book Kartonzauber by Berlin graphic designer and illustrator Claudia Scholl offering a lot of instructions for making cars or a kitchen of cardboards. Also a very good birthday gift! Have fun with it!

Works & rooms

The Alte Nationalgalerie is part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage and could also be called twin of the Neue Nationalgalerie which is located at Potsdamer Platz. Inside the 60s building of Mies van der Rohe the following, 20th century is presented. Some more sculptures of the 19th century are also to be seen at the nearby Friedrichswerderschen Kirche. A nice special is the comprising online info material of the museum. You can easily access it via Mediathek! Especially the audio input about Arnold Böcklin and Die Toteninsel (1883) is very well done!

Alte Nationalgalerie

Bodestraße 4
10178 Berlin
030 2090-5801



Related articles: Alte Nationalgalerie | Die Skulpturen, Alte Nationalgalerie | Die Gemälde, Alte Nationalgalerie | Werke & Räume

text & photos by Eugen Braeunig