Underground Bunker Alexanderplatz Berlin
Isometries
Isometries from the “Burrow” series, Underground bunker, Alexanderplatz Berlin
Underground Bunker Alexanderplatz Berlin
Views
Views from the “Burrow” series, Underground bunker, Alexanderplatz Berlin
Underground Bunker Alexanderplatz Berlin
photographs from the 94-part Burrow series
Beneath the Alexanderplatz lies one of Berlin’s biggest underground bunkers, built in 1941 out of a foundation block from the twenties. Heike Klussmann shows this subterranean structure beneath the Alexanderplatz in the Burrow series. It is no longer accessible because it is now serving as a foundation for the Saturn building that stands above it on the Alexanderplatz.
Photographs from the 94-part Burrow series, Underground Bunker, Alexanderplatz Berlin
Photographs from the 94-part Burrow series, Underground Bunker, Alexanderplatz Berlin
Berlin Alexanderplatz Kaufhof Reverse
Photographic and film montage consisting of 4084 photographs
In Berlin Alexanderplatz Kaufhof Reverse, I reconstruct the view surrounding the Kaufhof department store (formerly the Centrum Warenhaus). Four facade panels, each 160 x 560 cm, have been assembled from 4,084 individual images, photographed from the inside looking out through the holes in the building’s “honeycomb” facade. The view of the building takes on a double meaning. Assembling the individual perspectives creates a view of the building, with its unmistakable honeycomb structure, as a negative form of the view from within. The viewer is presented with a perspective that seems to suggest that the architecture itself is looking out at its surroundings like a living thing.
In the film of the same name, Berlin Alexanderplatz Kaufhof Reverse, the views from this multifaceted architectural eye become a film sequence, set in motion at a rate of 24 frames per second. The result is a fictive tracking shot through the interstices of the facade, simulating a mechanical scan of the four views.
Photographic and film montage consisting of 4,084 small-format photographs, each taken through one of the holes in the “honeycomb” facade of the former Centrum Warenhaus, from the inside looking out. Reassembled into four facade panels, each 160 x 560 cm, and a 16-mm film, 2:43 min. + 7 frames, loop.
In the film of the same name, Berlin Alexanderplatz Kaufhof Reverse, the views from this multifaceted architectural eye become a film sequence, set in motion at a rate of 24 frames per second. The result is a fictive tracking shot through the interstices of the facade, simulating a mechanical scan of the four views.
Photographic and film montage consisting of 4,084 small-format photographs, each taken through one of the holes in the “honeycomb” facade of the former Centrum Warenhaus, from the inside looking out. Reassembled into four facade panels, each 160 x 560 cm, and a 16-mm film, 2:43 min. + 7 frames, loop.
Berlin Alexanderplatz Kaufhof Reverse
Still
Photographic and film montage consisting of 4,084 small-format photographs, each taken through one of the holes in the “honeycomb” facade of the former Centrum Warenhaus, from the inside looking out. Reassembled into four facade panels, each 160 x 560 cm, and a 16-mm film, 2:43 min. + 7 frames, loop.
Underground Bunker Alexanderplatz Berlin
5.975-frame animation, 3:59 min., loop
Heike Klussmann glides beneath the Alexanderplatz into one of Berlin’s biggest underground bunkers, built in 1941 out of a foundation block from the twenties. This subterranean structure beneath the Alexanderplatz is no longer accessible, serving now as a foundation for the Saturn building that stands above it on the Alexanderplatz. The film is, on one hand, a document of the subterranean structure, on the other a fiction of appropriation: Like an animal or the “Princess of Persia” from the video game, Heike Klussmann glides through a warren of rooms, coming increasingly to inhabit this underground parallel world, in which gravity seems to be suspended.
BURROW, underground bunker, Alexanderplatz Berlin, 5.975-frame animation, 3:59 min., loop
BURROW, underground bunker, Alexanderplatz Berlin, 5.975-frame animation, 3:59 min., loop
Underground Bunker Alexanderplatz Berlin
Listening
Masterplan
Sketch showing how one thing relates to another on Berlin’s Alexanderplatz.
spoils
Centrum Warenhaus/ Kaufhof Alexanderplatz Berlin
The facade of the Centrum Warenhaus (später Kaufhof) consisted of a total of 3,927 modules. Material: coated sheet aluminum. Each module consists of two halves screwed together. Shape and dimensions of all modules are the same (W 67.5 cm x H 205 cm x D 42.2 cm). Each module was offset from its neighbors and connected to them by a total of eight screws. Module dimensions: gross surface area (top) 0.29 m2, gross surface area (front) 1.38 m2, mounted surface area (including gaps) 1.96 m2, flattened surface area 2.03 m2, sheet thickness 0.002 m, material volume 0.00406 m3, average weight 11 kg (10.8–11.4 kg). Total weight of all modules: approximately 43.2 t. Calculated dimensions: facade height = n (modules) * 1.45 m + 0.6 m; facade width = n (modules) * 1.35 m; stack height (tolerance ±0) = n (modules) * 0.18 m + 0.253 m, e.g. for a stack of ten modules, height = 10 * 0.18 m + 0.253 m = 2.053 m
Centrum Warenhaus/ Kaufhof I-IV
Alexanderplatz Berlin
Digistrip
Alexanderplatz Berlin, Animation, 1:12 min
The former Centrum Warenhaus department store on Berlin’s Alexanderplatz, today the Galeria Kaufhof, was renovated in 2004–05, and in the process its distinctive aluminum “honeycomb” facade was removed. However, it was never possible to see the building naked: For one thing, the facade was covered in building wrap during disassembly, but more importantly, the construction process dictated that the old building be progressively replaced by the new one, piece by piece. As a result, the interface between old and new was never visible.
With the animation Digistrip, Heike Klussmann fulfilled her desire to see the Centrum Warenhaus naked, replacing the aluminum facade pixel by pixel. Each click becomes a still in the film. The facade is digitally dismantled, in a process determined by the capacities of digital tools. Animation created from 1,815 individual frames, 1:12 min. + 15 frames.
Digistrip is the animated complement to Realstrip.
With the animation Digistrip, Heike Klussmann fulfilled her desire to see the Centrum Warenhaus naked, replacing the aluminum facade pixel by pixel. Each click becomes a still in the film. The facade is digitally dismantled, in a process determined by the capacities of digital tools. Animation created from 1,815 individual frames, 1:12 min. + 15 frames.
Digistrip is the animated complement to Realstrip.
Realstrip
Alexanderplatz Berlin, Film, 11 hours 12 min
The former Centrum Warenhaus department store on Berlin’s Alexanderplatz, today the Galeria Kaufhof, was renovated in 2004–05, and in the process its distinctive aluminum “honeycomb” facade was removed. In the film Realstrip, we see one section of the facade being disassembled piece by piece. The film begins with the removal of the first piece of the facade from the upper left corner of the frame and ends with the last piece being carried out of the bottom right corner. DV, 11 hours 12 min.
Realstrip is the documentary complement to Digistrip.
Realstrip is the documentary complement to Digistrip.
2005 , Realstrip , Kaufhof , Alexanderplatz , Berlin , deconstruction , film , Digistrip , 11 h 12 min
Kaufhof off the Reel
Alexanderplatz Berlin Super 8 animation
The Super 8 animation Kaufhof off the Reel shows me in my studio, apparently building a structure with a watering can. This appearance, however, is revealed to be a process of deconstruction shown in reverse.
spoils
Centrum Warenhaus/ Kaufhof Alexanderplatz Berlin
In 2004 I dismantled and stored a section of the distinctive aluminum “honeycomb” facade of the Centrum Warenhaus on the Alexanderplatz (built 1967–70, later renamed the Kaufhof, today the Galeria Kaufhof). I had one part melted back down into raw aluminum ingots; the other will be reused, in the tradition of architectural spoils, in a new structure, together with the facades of the Haus des Lehrers, the Forum Hotel and the Palast der Republik.
Thats the way i like it
On April 30, 2005, the Kaufhof department store (formerly the Centrum Warenhaus) auctioned off part of its own facade on Berlin’s Alexanderplatz. The individual facade sections were presented in a stall on the square and sold by a professional auctioneer. Passersby showed little interest. Heike Klussmann joined the crowd and bid on the sections, thereby staging the actually occurring event.
2005 , thatsthewayilikeit , Kaufhof , Centrum Warenhaus , Alexanderplatz , Berlin , film , public auction
Ingots
Sections of the aluminum facade of the Kaufhof department store (formerly the Centrum Warenhaus) on Berlin’s Alexanderplatz, which the artist had melted down into raw aluminum ingots after the facade was auctioned off on April 30, 2005.
www.berlinischegalerie.de/berlin8909
www.berlinischegalerie.de/berlin8909
spoils 1:100
Cardboard box containing cardboard facades from Berlin Alexanderplatz, 1:100 scale, dismantled and stored by Heike Klussmann
televisiontower
Monochrome City Alexanderplatz Berlin
Nine-day direct exposure on black-and-white photographic paper, from the series Monochrome City, shot from the 12th story of the Haus des Lehrers, Alexanderplatz, Berlin, 130 x 340 cm.
Kaufhof
Monochrome City
Eight-day direct exposure on black-and-white photographic paper, from the series Monochrom City, shot from the 12th story of the Haus des Lehrers, Alexanderplatz, Berlin, 130 x 320 cm.
Prospect South Precipice South
Monochrome City Alexanderplatz Berlin
Two-day direct exposure on black-and-white photographic paper, from the series Monochrome City, shot from the 12t story of the Haus des Lehrers, Alexanderplatz, Berlin, 130 x 220 cm
Prospect East Precipice East
Monochrome City Alexanderplatz Berlin
Two-day direct exposure on black-and-white photographic paper, from the series Monochrome City, shot from the 12t story of the Haus des Lehrers, Alexanderplatz, Berlin, 130 x 220 cm
Prospect West Precipice West
Monochrome City Alexanderplatz Berlin
Two-day direct exposure on black-and-white photographic paper, from the series Monochrome City, shot from the 12t story of the Haus des Lehrers, Alexanderplatz, Berlin, 130 x 220 cm
View into the Studio East Ceiling/ View into the Studio East
Monochrome City Alexanderplatz Berlin
Two-day direct exposure on black-and-white photographic paper, from the series Monochrome City, shot from the 12t story of the Haus des Lehrers, Alexanderplatz, Berlin, 130 x 220 cm
Prospect North Precipice North
Monochrome City Alexanderplatz Berlin
Two-day direct exposure on black-and-white photographic paper, from the series Monochrome City, shot from the 12t story of the Haus des Lehrers, Alexanderplatz, Berlin, 130 x 220 cm
View into the Studio Ceiling North/ View into the Studio North
Monochrome City Alexanderplatz Berlin
Two-day direct exposure on black-and-white photographic paper, from the series Monochrome City, shot from the 12t story of the Haus des Lehrers, Alexanderplatz, Berlin, 130 x 220 cm
Forum Hotel
Monochrome City Alexanderplatz Berlin
8-day direct exposure on black-and-white photographic paper, from the series Monochrom City, shot from the 12th story of the Haus des Lehrers, Alexanderplatz, Berlin, 130 x 320 cm.
Monochrome City
Alexanderplatz Berlin
Monochrome City consists of fourteen large-format direct exposures that I made from the top floor of the Haus des Lehrers (Teacher’s House) on Berlin’s Alexanderplatz. The photographs were made over the course of 2001, when my studio was located there. They depict either the view down onto Alexanderplatz or the view in the opposite direction, looking back into the building. ‹Monochrome City› employs the principle of the camera obscura—that is, all of the images are exposed directly onto the paper, and thus they appear as negatives and mirror reversed. The exposure time of each photograph ranges from a few hours to several days. To take the photographs I first built a box based on the proportions of the building and the dimensions of the window openings, then I converted the whole studio space into a camera. The work consists of several perspectives: four horizontal views outward (north, south, west, east), four vertical views down the facade of the building toward the street (north, south, west, east), and four views into the house (wall, ceiling). The view into my studio is also the view into the camera, since for two architectural details the whole studio functioned as a pinhole camera. They show Kaufhof and the Forum Hotel, two buildings that stand on Alexanderplatz, boxlike and solitary, much as the Haus des Lehrers does. The sightlines touch the building, but they leave it like a vacant space in the center of the work.
Camera Obscura
Monochrome City Alexanderplatz Berlin
Here, in the southwest corner of the top floor of the Haus des Lehrers, the Monochrome City series was created in 2000–01: fourteen large-format direct exposures of Berlin’s Alexanderplatz.
Therefore Heike Klussmann converted her studio in the Haus des Lehrers into a photographic apparatus, the whole studio became a camera obscura, format 550 x 500 x 320 cm.
Therefore Heike Klussmann converted her studio in the Haus des Lehrers into a photographic apparatus, the whole studio became a camera obscura, format 550 x 500 x 320 cm.
Camera Obscura
in Camera Obscura Alexanderplatz Berlin
The camera obscura for the Descent photographs (North, South, East and West) in Monochrome City was mounted on the top floor of the Haus des Lehrers. The studio space itself formed the camera obscura for the other photographs in the series.
Kunst Zürich
Zürich
Monochrom City in the show
Berlin Getting Real at the Kunst Zürich.
Berlin Getting Real at the Kunst Zürich.
Haus des Lehrers and Kongress Halle Berlin
Monochrome City shown at Haus des Lehrers and Kongresshalle Berlin.
Norwich Gallery
Monochrome City
Monochrome City at Norwich Gallery, UK.
Spoils
Haus des Lehrers Berlin Alexanderplatz
In 2003 Heike Klussmann dismantled and stored the facade of the Haus des Lehrers on the Alexanderplatz (built 1962–64. It will be reused, in the tradition of architectural spoils, in a new structure, together with the facades of the Forum Hotel, the Kaufhof and the Palast der Republik.
Burrow
Antje Wachs Gallery
Heike Klussmann – BAU
24.September - 29.Oktober
Antje Wachs Gallery
Gipsstr. 5
10119 Berlin
24.September - 29.Oktober
Antje Wachs Gallery
Gipsstr. 5
10119 Berlin