Exhibition tip: Hin und weg. Der Palast der Republik ist Gegenwart

2 min read

The "Palast der Republic" was many things: a symbol of political power, a cultural meeting place and a controversial building in Germany's post-war history. Today, the Humboldt Forum stands in its place. With the special exhibition “Hin und weg. Der Palast der Republik ist Gegenwart”, the Forum invites visitors to rediscover this special place.

Journey into the past

The history of the Palast is vividly presented on 1,300 square meters: from its construction in the 1970s to its use as a multi-purpose political and cultural building in the GDR and its demolition. Originals such as fragments of the “Glass Flower”, historical photographs, drawings and posters show the various facets of the palace. Interviews also allow a personal examination of its past. Why the palace was demolished and replaced by the Humboldt Forum remains a much-discussed question today. For this reason, the exhibition also invites visitors to engage in discourse and offers space for exchange.

Diverse supporting program

The exhibition is accompanied by a varied program that includes a theater production, various events, workshops and digital offerings as well as an extensive book publication.

'The "Palast der Republik" as a narrative occasion: personal, ambivalent and contradictory memories are at the center of the exhibition and connect past and present. Based on concrete experiences on site, it is about experiences of upheaval in a united Germany and ultimately about where we stand socially today. The exhibition invites visitors to listen, to engage with the perspectives of others and to form their own opinions.'

Anke Schnabel, Curator of the exhibition