Hin und Weg. Der Palast der Republik ist Gegenwart - Freier Eintritt am 02. Februar 2025

In the organizer's words:

Loved and hated, admired and reviled, disappeared and remembered: where the Humboldt Forum stands today was once the site of the Palace of the Republic in Berlin, a representative building of political power in the GDR.

The program Hin und weg. The Palace of the Republic is Present, 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.

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 meters from 17 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 is representative of how 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. Through numerous interviews, the exhibition shows 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 to take home afterwards.
- Duration: 17.05.2024-16.02.2025
- Wednesday - Monday 10:30-18:30
- Language: German / English
- Location: Special exhibition area
- Wheelchair accessible
- Exhibition: 12,00 EUR / 6,00 EUR, many free events. Free admission to the exhibition on Sunday, 02.02.2025
- Opening hours on 02.02.2025 10:30-18:30