Blown Away: the Palace of the Republic

The programme  Hin und weg. The Palace of the Republic is Present programme, the Humboldt Forum in Berlin is dedicating an annual focus to this vanished site, reflecting on its own existence and prehistory as well as the publicly debated question of why the Palace of the Republic was demolished and the Humboldt Forum was built in its place - with the appearance of the baroque palace and in parts over the original concrete foundations of the palace, which have been preserved underground.

Why the title "The Palace of the Republic is Present"? Because the questions raised by the construction, operation and demolition of the palace still move many people today. The programme focuses on loss, oppression, freedom, participation and transformation and includes a large special exhibition, a theatre production, a variety of events, workshops and digital offerings as well as an extensive book publication.

The exhibition Hin und weg. The Palace of the Republic is Present will bring the history and present of the palace to life on 1,300 square metres from May 2024. On display are objects from and about the palace, drawings, photographs and posters, audio and video interviews from the "Remembrance work in the Humboldt Forum" project and participatory activities.

The exhibition is dedicated to the various phases of the building: from its planning and construction (1973-1976) to its use as a multi-purpose political and cultural building in the GDR, its significance as the seat of the first freely elected People's Chamber, its interim use and its demolition in the Federal Republic of Germany, which was completed in 2008. Numerous works of art, designs and furnishings from the Palace of the Republic illustrate the various uses of the building, including fragments of the sculpture Gläserne Blume (Glass Flower) and the painting Die Rote Fahne (The Red Flag) by Willi Sitte.

The starting point is the encounter with the vanished site, which for many people is still a powerful symbol of the end of the GDR. For many people, the demolition of the palace symbolises the way the Federal Republic of Germany dealt with the GDR legacy and its people, who experienced loss as well as the devaluation and devaluation of their own biographies.For others, the demolition is seen as an act of liberation from the GDR state and its dictatorial activities, while some are indifferent to the demolition.The exhibition uses numerous interviews to show the perspectives of people who worked in the Palast, who visited it or deliberately avoided it. Prominent and previously unheard voices have their say.

Families with children aged 4 and over can explore the themes of the exhibition in a playful way with a children's booklet. Using simple explanations, search and creative tasks, it draws attention to specific exhibits. They can use the creative sheet to design a souvenir box, which they can then take home with them.

A varied programme of events and educational activities awaits you as part of the annual focus. Guided tours and workshops present the history and significance of the Palace of the Republic, provide insights into different perspectives and invite you to exchange ideas. Performances, films, concerts, lectures and discussions give you the opportunity to get to know the various facets of the Palace of the Republic. The Palast-Treff brings experts and visitors together for round-table discussions. The virtual reality installation Palace of Remembrance is a walk-in artwork that brings the spatial experience of the Palace to life.

The approximately 30 years of existence of the GDR prestige object are the focus of a theatrical journey through time in which the history of the "Palace for the People" comes to life. The play explores its significance as a cultural, political and identity-forming place. 100 Berliners bring the Palast der Republik back to life at its historical location. An ensemble of citizens, contemporary witnesses and choirs in cooperation with the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music will bring the building back to life in a sensual theatre happening and vividly bear witness to the traces that this lost place has left behind. Premiere is on 17 May 2024.

The publication Hin und weg. The Palace of the Republic is Present positions the Palace of the Republic as an all-German topic and illuminates it in all its breadth, with topics such as architecture, building history, artistic positions, research and experiential knowledge. At the heart of the exhibition are numerous perspectives on the palace and its history from a wide variety of people, with discourses opening up the topic to a broad audience.

With texts by Victoria Helene Bergemann, Aron Boks, Gesine Danckwart, Hanno Hochmuth, Dagmar Hovestädt, Zsófia Kelm, Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk, Yevheniia Moliar, Chen Shuyu, Gülşah Stapel, Oliver Sukrow, Bruno Torres, Uljana Wolf and curators from the Humboldt Forum Foundation at the Berlin Palace, among others. With photographic works by Tobias Kruse, graphics by graphicrecording.cool (Johanna Benz, Tiziana Beck).

Since the beginning of 2014, the History of the Site department has conducted research, indexed and digitised film, television and photographic material, researched and collected objects and archive material, organised exhibitions and events as well as a wide range of talks and publications on the Palace of the Republic. Twelve "traces" with objects or documents relating to the Palace of the Republic are permanently installed in the Humboldt Forum and can be explored virtually in the media guide. The Palace of the Republic also plays a prominent role in the Videopanorama.

- Duration: 17.05.2024-16.02.2025

- Language: German / English

- Location: Special exhibition area

- Wheelchair accessible

- Exhibition: € 12.00 / € 6.00, many free events

- During the theme days from October 03-05, 2024, the exhibition will be open until 21:00. In addition, the day ticket costs €6 during this time and €0 for concessions.

On 30.11.2024, admission to the exhibition Hin und weg is free of charge.  The offer is valid for 30.11.2024 for people who volunteer and can be booked at the ticket office. Please have proof of this ready at the entrance or at the ticket desk:

- Berlin-Brandenburg Volunteer Card

- VolunteerPass

- Student Volunteer Pass

- Volunteer Pass for Refugee Aid

- Juleica (youth leader card)

- Proof of activity from civil society organizations (to be issued individually)

- service@humboldtforum.org

- 030/992118989

- www.humboldtforum.org

With an admission ticket from the DDR Museum, visitors receive a 25 percent discount on admission to the exhibition "Hin und weg. The Palace of the Republic is Present". Visitors to the exhibition can in turn receive a 25 percent discount on admission to the DDR Museum. The discount can be redeemed on site and applies exclusively to the full-price ticket and cannot be combined with other discounts. The discount is valid for the duration of the exhibition from May 17, 2024 to February 26, 2025.