Anonyme Mitte
Berlin
Description:... The anonymous heart of Berlin in the central district of Mitte takes in the area that is regarded as the cradle of the German capital. Arwed Messmer has visited this area, which also includes the former settlement of Friedrichswerder, countless times since 1995 and recorded the changes photographically in multi-part panoramic sequences and individual photographs. For him, this is a magical place. Messmer has documented the demolition of the East German foreign ministry, The transformation of the Neue Reichsbank building, The metamorphosis of the Palace of the Republic, The communist era developments on Breite Straße, Sperlingsgasse and along Friedrichsgracht, The new construction on Friedrichswerder And The archaeological excavations on Petriplatz. The writer Annett Gröschner accompanies Messmer's journey around the centre of Berlin with her essay about the past and present of Berlin's anonymous heart. Curator and photo historian Florian Ebner explores the artistic qualities of Arwed Messmer's work in the context of urban photography in Berlin, analysing his photographic viewpoint and aesthetic, As well as his specifc archaeological approach both in terms of the photographer's own work and his engagement with the work of others. English and German text.
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