Art?

I'm not sure if this broom is art or just a broom. A thought to ponder... I hope you enjoyed the tour of the bunker, even if it did not include as much art as I would have liked.

Details

Here are some shots showing more details from inside the Bunker. I often wonder if today's children even recognize what this is.

 

These are the original air vents used during WWII to make sure fresh air could get into the building. 

Here's a bit more history on the Bunker itself:

The Bunker is in the former East Berlin. During the divided years, the DDR used it as a storage area for tropical fruit (things that weren't available to the common citizen). When the Wall came down, it went through a number of reincarnations -the most memorable being a techno dance club (my husband visited during that time).

By the mid-1990s, the club got too loud and seedy for the neighborhood and it was closed down. The Bunker stood empty for a number of years until the government decided to auction it off to a private owner. Christian Boros purchased the space in 2003 and hired an architectural firm to redesign it to make it a place where he could both live and showcase his art collection. Renovations were complete in 2007 and the space opened to the public in 2008 (by guided tour only).  

Some photos of the Bunker pre-renovation are here. You can also read more about the Bunker from a NY Times article here.

Illicit shots

You may be wondering why I haven't shown you any of the art. There's a simple answer - photography of the art was not allowed. The Boros Sammlung is actually a private collection that Christian Boros, the owner and resident of the bunker, has been kind enough to open up to the public. I did, however, sneak these two shots on my way to the toilet before the tour started.

I don't recall the name of the artist who created these sculptures. It's a shame I couldn't really get the whole room as it's quite open, not what you'd expect in a bunker. Hope the lack of art won't stop you from coming back tomorrow for more on the bunker.

Quadrant A

As with most everything German, the bunker was very well-organized. There were signs and arrows that would have guided occupants of the bunker to their specific hideout spot. Our first part of the tour took us through the "A" quadrant of the building.

Check back tomorrow for more from the bunker and take a look at Signs, Signs for more signs.

Have a seat

Once guests pass through the heavy doors into the former bunker, they are welcomed for a short presentation before embarking on the guided tour of the Boros Sammlung. The tour groups are small, only 8-10 people, and very informative.

Once the presentation was over, we followed the arrows to the first room. More to come tomorrow.

Through the doors

Follow me through these doors and I'll take you on a journey through one of Berlin's secret art galleries. Best of all, all of the art is displayed in an old, WWII-era bunker. I hope I've intrigued you to come back for more!

PS: There are more photos from my holidays in Florida on Halcyon Travels. Stop by for a look!