The research project “The Art Histories and Stories of the Tiergarten Quarter”, which is funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, was first launched in October 2022. Based in the Kunstbibliothek, the project seeks to uncover the rich artistic history of the neighbourhood surrounding the present-day Kulturforum, a history that has largely been forgotten since 1945. What’s more, it aims to consolidate existing research findings, incorporate new investigation in the field, and explore not only the fine arts but also applied arts in this context.

At the centre of this project is the glamorous era of the early 20th century, when the Tiergarten Quarter, with its extensive cultural networks, emerged as a modern hub for art collecting, the art trade, fashion, photography and interior design. However, after 1933, the persecution, unlawful expropriation and murder of Jewish residents under Nazi rule brought an end to this unique cultural flourishing. The Second World War largely destroyed the quarter, obliterating the memory of the once-renowned residents, their extraordinary art collections and their creative achievements.

By conducting historical detective work, the project team was able to gather clues and reconstruct overlooked chapters of these art histories. They utilised historical address books, city maps, photographs, newspapers, magazines and publications of the time from the Kunstbibliothek’s holdings and analysed records from the Berlin Compensation Office to bring vivid portraits of forgotten figures and places to life. Unknown biographies paint the picture of a fascinating, art-loving and tight-knit neighbourhood, revealing that as far back as a century ago, the area around the Matthäikirche was already a “Kulturforum”.

Research team: Dr Gesa Kessemeier, Dr Joachim Brand
Funded by: Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM).
Duration: October 2022 to November 2023