Some cultural buildings stand out as much for their architecture as for the artifacts they house. The Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation – a museum telling real stories about refugees and displaced people – is arguably one such place. Sharp, minimalist design and raw concrete surfaces make up the Centre, which is located opposite the ruins of the former Anhalter Bahnhof near Potsdamer Platz. An austere spiral staircase – designed by Austrian architects Marte.Marte – leads up to the exhibition. The centerpiece is a compelling permanent exhibition that looks at politically, ethnically and religiously motivated forced migrations in the 20th century in Europe and beyond. The focus of the exhibition is on the displacement and expulsion of Germans during and after the Second World War, which started in Germany. The 1500 square meter space is home to photos, texts, audiovisual material and – perhaps most interestingly of all – physical objects. There are life jackets belonging to Mediterranean migrants, pots and pans issued by the UN to Bangladeshi refugees, and house keys kept by Germans forced from Königsberg (now Kaliningrad). Many of the artifacts bear the weight of loss and violence, two things that scarred the past century and still mark the present day. A look around leaves you with lots to ponder – which is no bad thing because the Centre has a dedicated Room of Stillness, a sculpture-like space that sets light against shadow to create an introspective atmosphere. It’s a setting as moving as the stories themselves.
Text: Benji Haughton / Photos: Gröteke, SFVV
Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation, Stresemannstr.90, 10963 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
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