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Exhibition - Description

Hauptbereich

Humboldt-Box
Thu 30 June 2011 - until further notice

Box with a view
On the way to the Humboldt Forum

Nulis, ancestor of a native American clan on the West coast of Canada, welcomes visitors to the Humboldt Box with open arms. His mask is still worn today during Potlatch ceremonies held by the Kwakiutl and is a symbol of the generosity with which gifts are handed out to guests. It is with this gesture that the Humboldt Box invites visitors to catch a glimpse of the project of the future: the Humboldt Forum, due to be erected directly below the box on Schlossplatz. In a joint exhibition, the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin's Ethnologisches Museum and Museum für Asiatische Kunst, the Humboldt-Universität and the Zentral- und Landesbibiliothek Berlin will unveil to the public their plans for the Humboldt Forum by highlighting topics from all over the globe.

The Nulis mask is an illustration of the significance that historic collections have for the descendents of those peoples studied by Europeans, as well as of the promising collaborations they can lead to in today's world. A host of things are revealed in the box: the history of a Cameroonian king's throne prompts a reassessment of the colonial period, while a view of an open storeroom illustrates the hidden wealth of objects held at the Berlin museums. In the Meeting Point, visitors will have the chance to hear music from around the globe and attend workshops. Chinese porcelain on show will tell the tale of an early form of mass production and global trade. A behind-the-scenes view of the museum workshop demonstrates how wall paintings from the Silk Road are restored. The Humboldt-Universität meanwhile will present forthcoming research projects in which German and international scholars work together. Anyone who still has a thirst to find out more about the world after all this will be able to broaden their knowledge in the Zentral- und Landesbibiliothek Berlin's Humboldt Lounge, where they will also have the chance to simply sit back and enjoy the view of the Lustgarten.

The project is supported by Stiftung Berliner Schloss - Humboldtforum in its role as a coordinating partner. The exhibition has been designed by the company res d design und architektur, Cologne. The Förderverein Berliner Schloss e.V. presents the history of the site and provides an insight into the construction plans.

Exhibition opening hours:

Mon-Sun 10-8 p.m.
The café/restaurant is also open in the evening.

Admission:

Special winter deal: a year's pass, priced just €8, grants you unlimited access to the Humboldt-Box, valid for an entire year.

€4.00 in conjunction with a voucher worth €0.50 for the Humboldt Café.

Free admission for children up to age 12.

Concessions: €2.50 for pupils, students, unemployed, disabled (necessary ID required)

School groups: €20.00 (with 1-2 accompanying adults, prior registration and official certification required)

Groups of more than 10 people: €3.50 per person

Family ticket: €7.00 (2 adults and up to 3 children)

Presented by:

Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Zentral- und Landesbibliothek