The Project Space Festival is also a tour through the city. Artist Carola Rümper takes us on a stroll through her favourite spots in Marzahn-Hellersdorf, where the festival contribution of her project space mp43 – projekraum für das periphere opens on August 8th. A journey to frozen places, balcony cinemas and sausage editions.
Sojus Cinema
“The Sojus is a defunct cinema, which is situated right on Allee der Kosmonauten. It was commissioned by Erich Honecker and opened in 1981. Since 2007 there have been no screenings here, and the building has been left to rot. Unfortunately, I never made it to the cinema when it was still open. When you stand here and listen to the Russian sounding names like “Sojus” and “Allee der Kosmonauten”, you understand that what lies before you here is the past of the city of Berlin, frozen in time. What a shame that this place, like so many others, will disappear when it will be torn down at the end of 2018. Come and see it before it’s too late.”
Helene-Weigel-Platz 12
12681 Berlin
Kommunale Galerie Schloss Biesdorf
“Curator Karin Scheel has been in charge of the communal galleries of the district Marzahn-Hellersdorf since 2009. In February the institution moved into Schloss Biesdorf, for which Karin Scheel had a special concept in store: She is showing art in public space and participatory projects, with a special focus on projects that directly address the area. The presentations are often rather unusual and really give you an insight into the district. In addition to the studio programme, it was her curatorial concept that prompted me to move my studio to Marzahn-Hellersdorf, where my project space mp43 – projektraum für das periphere is also located.”
Alt-Biesdorf 55
12683 Berlin
www.schlossbiesdorf.de
Balkonkino
“The Balkonkino takes place each summer on Cecilienplatz. It’s such a special thing because residents can watch films from their balconies. Other visitors can just grab a chair or cushion and sit in front of the screen on the square. It’s quite an unusual backdrop for an open air cinema, because the Cecilienplatz is located right in the middle of high-rises. The events transform Cecilienplatz into a space where people get to know each other and have fun together, instead of giving in to sulkiness and monotony.”
Cecilienplatz
12619 Berlin
www.cecilienplatz.de/balkonkino
Wurstspezialitäten Roswitha Andersson-Fast
“It may surprise people that a dedicated vegetarian such as myself would recommend, of all places, a butcher. It’s located on Kastanienboulevard, really close to mp43. Yet, calling this a butcher doesn’t really do it justice. Next to the lunch that you can order here, the place is a real local haunt. The owner Roswitha Andersson-Fast is a special part of the charm, as she understands her store as not just a food shop, but a meeting place where people connect. She has an open ear for every one of her customers, and is actively involved in shaping the social life around the boulevard. I’ve even been discussing the initial ideas for a joint project with her, a ‘Wurst Edition’. And I’m really looking forward to working with her – veggies and wurst, what’s not to like?”
Stollberger Straße 67
12627 Berlin
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Texts by Carola Rümper
Photographed by manuscript696