Public Conservation of Collection Works at the Hamburger Bahnhof
With the educational series “Show me!”, the Hamburger Bahnhof invites all visitors to take a look behind the scenes: public conservation allow visitors to get to know works of art and the museum's collection work up close during the exhibition visit.
Conservation issues in dealing with contemporary materials from industrial and everyday culture, artistic concepts and the communication of media-historical content form the basis of the three-part series “Show us!”. Guided tours and discussions with experts accompany the conservation of the respective works. In addition, visitors have the opportunity to speak to the restorers on site and ask questions during a daily time slot.
Upcoming time slots for questions to the conservators:
14 to 17 January 2025
Rachel Whiteread, Untitled (Mattress), 1991, West Wing, 1st floor
13 January 2025 – 30 March 2025
Rachel Whiteread’s mattress, cast in rubber, was created during the economic downturn from 1990 to 1991 and is currently part of the collection presentation Nationalgalerie. A Collection for the 21st Century on art in Berlin after 1989. Like many other pieces of furniture and household objects, mattresses lying around were part of the usual street scene in large cities like London. For Whiteread, they are sculptural forms, commentaries on growing social injustice.
Whiteread’s rubber floor sculpture in the Hamburger Bahnhof shows surface contamination from dust and signs of use due to the work’s long and varied exhibition history. The previously clear, cool and pure colour effect of the artwork has given way to a diffuse greying. The surface will be cleaned in consultation with the artist and the dirt removal will be carried out using a specially developed method as well as specially coordinated materials. The measures take place during ongoing exhibition operations and can be observed by visitors up close.
Bruce Nauman, Room With My Soul Leftout. Room That Doesn’t Care, 1984/2010, Rieckhallen, Hall 5
4 November 2024 – 30 November 2024
In 2010, Bruce Nauman installed four black corridors in the former industrial hall that run towards each other in a cross shape and are only illuminated by pale light. Standing on a grate in the center of the installation, visitors look up into a shaft and down into an abyss. For some, entering the corridors may be unpleasant, even oppressive, causing isolation and fear.
Bruce Nauman's work, which has been installed in Hall 5 of the Rieckhallen since 2010, has experienced numerous signs of wear and tear due to the interactive use of visitors. In addition to dry surface cleaning of the insulation panels, the conservation measures for restoring the presentation capability include classic conservation steps such as consolidation, inlaying and colour reintegration of defects.