On the corner of Unter den Linden and Friedrichstrasse in Berlin stands a graphic warning of what can happen when design is celebrated for itself rather than for its function.
The Ampelmännchen shop.
A temple to modern consumerism which presents Berlin’s most famous road crossing professional as an attention seeking Diva of intolerable proportions.
Until September 15th those looking for an alternative take on Berlin creativity need only cross Friedrichstrasse to the exhibition We Create Berlin.
And on account of the construction works currently taking place, there is no need for any form of illuminated assistance.
Create Berlin presents We Create Berlin.
Organised by the Berlin creative network Create Berlin, “We Create Berlin” presents some 20+ Berlin creatives in a showcase that ignores creative boundaries: architects stand next to product designers next to artists next to photographers next to …. you get the idea.
And this mix is for us very positive and very welcome.
All too often such exhibitions are either designers, or architects, or photographers, or artists. Yet there is no reason why that should be. Convention has simply decided in its inimitable wisdom to make it so. With its inter-disciplinary approach We Create Berlin underscores the absurdity of convention’s logic. And also underlines the inter-dependency of the creative genres.
Those clients looking to commission a practitioner from one creative branch, generally have a need for a practitioner from a second. If not a third. And fourth. Why not offer such clients a one stop shop? A creative supermarket as it were.
What is also very welcome is that the exhibition doesn’t just feature “The Usual Suspects”, but rather is largely composed of Berlin creatives who we can’t remember every seeing in such a context. Or in some cases, at all.
Although we have our suspicions, we don’t know why “The Usual Suspects” didn’t apply to exhibit. Are however glad they didn’t. A creative community such as that in Berlin relies on its variety for its existence and for us the absence of the more established names helps We Create Berlin highlight this variety, and for all, the vitality of creativity in Berlin.
We Create Berlin: diephotodesigner.de
But perhaps the most welcome aspect of We Create Berlin is the location – situated as it is, in effect, in the basement of the Volkswagen Group’s flagship dealership in the heart of historic Berlin.
On the first floor, Berlin’s more solvent residents discuss terms for the purchase of their next car.
On the ground floor, a good natured crowd of international visitors jostle for position to have their photos taken next to Bentleys, Bugattis and Skodas.
In the basement, contemporary Berlin creativity is presented atop and amongst 1000 white cardboard boxes.
As such it is a location devoid of so much of the dogma associated with visiting a gallery or a museum. There is nothing “complex”, “challenging” or “special” about viewing the exhibition. It’s just some objects and posters in the basement of a car dealership. It’s something for everyone.
As such we are very confident that one or the other VW visitor or tourist will look over the railings and make their way down the stairs.
Which is good. Very good.
What irritates us about the constant claim that Berlin is Europe’s creative capital, is the general lack of evidence presented to back it up.
Other than the tired mantra that “Loads and loads and loads and loads of young hip people come to Berlin!!! We’re so Great!!!”
Berlin creativity celebrating itself rather than what it produces.
An Ampelmännchen store disguised as sober reasoning.
Yet just as the Ampelmännchen is truly one of the most ingenious developments in the context of post-war road safety, and deserves to be celebrated for what it is, so to does Berlin creativity genuinely have an awful lot to offer. And deserves to be celebrated for what it is.
If it is the most creative city in Europe is something we seriously doubt, but it is very creative.
We Create Berlin shows that.
And so if a lay public experience what Berlin actually has to offer, then hopefully they will go home with stories of Berlin creativity that go beyond the clichés.
In our post on the Berlin Design Souvenir Award 2013 we ranted:
“However what you can do is ensure that those visitors who are interested in the contemporary culture of the city look beyond the bland “Insider Tips” in their guide books and find those locations, those designers, those manufactures – and those products – that interest them and inspire them. Not least because you then have the potential to not only create a long-term relationship between creative and customer through repeat business, but also word of mouth advertising through the “tourist” showing the product to friends and family.”
We Create Berlin offers just such a platform.
And it isn’t purely a platform for passers-by, tourists and car salesfolk. We don’t want to give the wrong impression.
It is an exhibition for all looking for an overview of contemporary Berlin creativity. For all who want to understand what is happening in Berlin today. For all looking to commission a Berlin creative professional or two. For all who believe that Berlin is Europe’s creative capital. But can’t explain why.
We Create Berlin: New Order by Böttcher+Henssler
As with all exhibitions that deal with a broad range of subjects We Create Berlin is relatively shallow. There are some truly excellent projects, studios and institutions on display, but the exhibition in no way explores the complete depth of what Berlin has to offer.
For that Create Berlin would need all the floors in the Automobil Forum rather than just the basement.
But then that is not the point. We Create Berlin never set out to be definitive. Never set out to answer the question as to “What is Berlin design?” Never set out to provide a roadmap for future developments in the city.
It simply wanted to show who is currently creating Berlin.
Which it does in a very accessible, fresh and highly entertaining fashion.
And without ever celebrating the city ahead of its creatives.
Which is of course the real joy of the exhibition.
We Create Berlin can be viewed at the Volkswagen Automobil Forum, Unter den Linden 21, 10117 Berlin until September 15th.
The exhibition is open daily from 10 to 8pm and entry is free.
In addition to the exhibition Create Berlin are also organising an accompanying programme of talks and performances. Full details can be found at www.create-berlin.de
Below a few impressions. A larger gallery can be found at facebook.com/minimum.berlin
We Create Berlin @ Automobil Forum Berlin
We Create Berlin 2013: Veronika Wildgruber
We Create Berlin 2013: Hopf,Nordin
We Create Berlin 2013: Create Change Project by Dan Pearlman
