Dalí – The Exhibition at Potsdamer Platz was a privately-run museum in Berlin, Germany, dedicated exclusively to the surrealist artist Salvador Dalí (1904–1989). Located at Leipziger Platz 7, 10117 Berlin, in the vibrant Potsdamer Platz area, it operated from February 5, 2009, to December 19, 2021, showcasing over 450 original exhibits from private collections worldwide. Curated by Carsten Kollmeier, the exhibition offered an extensive insight into Dalí’s virtuosic and experimental mastery across diverse artistic techniques, including lithographs, etchings, sculptures, films, and illustrated books. Housed in a modern building, it aimed to immerse visitors in Dalí’s surreal world with the motto “Come into my brain,” as Dalí himself invited. The museum closed in 2021, and while a reopening at a new location is planned, no confirmed details are available as of May 2025.
Origins and Development (2001–2009)
The exhibition began as a
touring display before finding a permanent home in Berlin:
2001:
Dalí – Die Ausstellung debuted in Schloss Schwetzingen,
Baden-Württemberg, in cooperation with the state’s finance minister and
the Spanish General Consul. This marked the first major presentation of
the collection, curated by Carsten Kollmeier.
2002–2006: The
exhibition toured Germany, including a stop at Hamburg’s Chilehaus in
2002 (with Difa, now Union Investment) and a temporary show in Berlin’s
Dom Aquarée in 2006.
2007–2008: It was displayed at Berlin’s
Kurfürstendamm in the former Filmbühne Wien, gaining significant visitor
interest.
2009: Encouraged by strong public response, Kollmeier
secured a permanent venue at Leipziger Platz, opening Dalí – The
Exhibition at Potsdamer Platz on February 5, 2009. The choice of
Potsdamer Platz, a symbol of Berlin’s post-reunification renewal,
aligned with Dalí’s innovative and provocative spirit.
Operation
and Closure (2009–2021)
2009–2021: The museum operated for nearly 13
years, becoming one of Germany’s top 10% most-visited museums despite
being privately funded without government or foundation support.
Notable Features: The exhibition was unique as one of only three museums
worldwide dedicated solely to Dalí, alongside those in Figueres, Spain,
and St. Petersburg, Florida. It drew from a pool of over 2,000 works,
with 450 displayed at any time, regularly rotated to showcase different
pieces.
Closure: On December 19, 2021, the museum closed due to
unspecified reasons, possibly related to lease issues or financial
considerations. A farewell promotion during Advent 2021 offered free
pocket guides (€2.80 value) with tickets and discounted catalogs (€7). A
reopening at a new Berlin location is planned, but as of October 2023,
no new site has been confirmed.
Key Historical Context
Dalí’s
Legacy: Salvador Dalí, a Spanish surrealist, was a multifaceted artist
known for his paintings, sculptures, films, and provocative persona. His
work spanned Surrealism, classical techniques, and experimental methods
like Bulletism, making him a fitting subject for a dynamic exhibition in
Berlin, a city known for blending history and modernity.
Berlin’s
Cultural Scene: Potsdamer Platz, rebuilt after the fall of the Berlin
Wall, is a hub of contemporary culture, with landmarks like the Atrium
Tower and Sony Center. The Dalí exhibition complemented Berlin’s
reputation for cutting-edge art, alongside museums like the Neue
Nationalgalerie and Pergamonmuseum.
Private Funding: As a
privately-run museum, it relied on ticket sales and additional fees
(e.g., €2 for photography, cloakroom charges), which sparked some
criticism but enabled its independence.
Building Design
The Dalí exhibition was housed in a modern,
purpose-built structure at Leipziger Platz 7, designed to contrast with
Potsdamer Platz’s sleek, post-reunification architecture:
Exterior: The building featured a contemporary facade with clean lines,
fitting the area’s modern aesthetic. Its location near the Atrium Tower
and Leipziger Platz’s commercial hub made it highly visible.
Interior: The museum spanned 1,500 square meters over two floors, with a
spacious, well-lit layout. Key features included:
Central Foyer: A
welcoming reception area with a cloakroom, ticket desk, and museum shop.
Exhibition Rooms: Open, flexible spaces with neutral walls to highlight
Dalí’s colorful works. The rooms were arranged chronologically and
thematically, guiding visitors through Dalí’s career.
Event Area:
Integrated into the exhibition space, this area hosted conferences,
galas, and private events, offering a surreal backdrop.
Cinema Room:
A small screening area showcased Dalí’s film work, such as sequences
from Alfred Hitchcock’s Spellbound (1945).
Accessibility: All rooms
were wheelchair-accessible, with an external lift connecting floors.
Staff assisted with lift operation, ensuring inclusivity.
Architectural Significance
The modern design contrasted with Berlin’s
historic museums (e.g., Alte Nationalgalerie), aligning with Dalí’s
avant-garde ethos. The spacious layout and multimedia integration
created an “edutainment” experience, balancing education and engagement.
However, some visitors noted the space felt small during peak times,
leading to crowding.
The exhibition featured over 450 original exhibits, drawn from a pool
of 2,000 works from private collectors worldwide, curated by Carsten
Kollmeier. It emphasized Dalí’s versatility across media, from graphic
arts to three-dimensional installations, with a focus on his surrealist
and experimental techniques. Below are the key exhibit categories and
highlights:
Graphic Works
Lithographs and Etchings: Included
Dalí’s first lithographic work, Don Quixote de la Mancha (1956), created
using rhinoceros horns and an arquebuse to revolutionize the technique.
Woodcuts and Drypoint Etchings: Notable series include:
Divine Comedy
(1963): 100 woodcuts illustrating Dante Alighieri’s epic, commissioned
for Dante’s 700th anniversary but published in France after Italian
backlash over a Spanish artist’s involvement.
Tristan und Isolde
(1970): 21 etchings capturing the Wagnerian opera’s passion.
Alice in
Wonderland (1969): Illustrations for Lewis Carroll’s tale, showcasing
Dalí’s whimsical style.
Gargantua et Pantagruel (1973): Inspired by
Rabelais’s satirical novel.
Casanova (1967): Erotic and adventurous
illustrations for Giacomo Casanova’s memoirs.
Bulletism: Works
created by shooting muskets at lithographic stones, a technique Dalí
pioneered to capture explosive energy.
Sculptures and
Three-Dimensional Works
Surrealist Angel: A iconic sculpture
symbolizing Dalí’s surrealist philosophy, displayed prominently.
Experimental Installations: Pieces created by exploding nail-filled
bombs or driving a steamroller over a sewing machine, showcasing Dalí’s
radical approach.
Small Objects: Intricate numismatic works and
miniature sculptures, reflecting Dalí’s attention to detail.
Illustrated Books
Don Quixote: A luxurious edition illustrated by
Dalí for publisher Joseph Forêt, using innovative lithographic
techniques.
Apocalypse of St. John: Mixed-media graphics for a $1
million book project, one of the most expensive of its time.
The
Three-Cornered Hat (1959): Illustrations for Pedro Antonio de Alarcón’s
novel, translated as Le Tricorne.
Moses and Monotheism: Dalí’s
illustrations for Sigmund Freud’s work, blending surrealism with
psychoanalytic themes.
Multimedia and Films
Film Sequences:
Clips from Dalí’s cinematic collaborations, including:
Spellbound
(1945): Dream sequences designed for Alfred Hitchcock’s film, starring
Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck.
Destino (1945–2003): An animated
short for Disney, completed posthumously.
Photographs and Documents:
Historical images and texts provided insights into Dalí’s life,
including his friendships with Freud, Forêt, and Gala, his muse.
Interactive and Guided Elements
Dalí_Scouts: Expert guides, known as
Dalí_Scouts, led public tours almost hourly (12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:30
p.m., 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m.), offering conversational insights into Dalí’s
techniques and biography. Tours were praised as “must-haves” for their
depth and engagement.
Audio Guide: Available in multiple languages,
it provided context for artworks, though some preferred the guided tours
for their interactivity.
Multimedia Guide: A digital alternative to
tours, offering detailed explanations of works like Alice in Wonderland
and Faust, enhancing understanding of Dalí’s techniques.
Critical
Reception
Strengths: Visitors lauded the exhibition’s comprehensive
scope, well-organized layout, and the “amazing” guided tours, which made
Dalí’s complex works accessible. The focus on lesser-known graphic works
and illustrations was a highlight, offering fresh perspectives on Dalí
beyond his famous paintings like The Persistence of Memory.
Criticisms: Some noted the absence of major oil paintings, with an
emphasis on sketches and reproductions rather than iconic originals. The
small exhibition space could feel crowded, and additional fees (e.g., €2
for photography, cloakroom charges) frustrated some visitors. Others
felt more textual information on artworks was needed without booking a
tour.
Dalí’s Universal Appeal
Salvador Dalí, with his flamboyant
mustache and provocative persona, was a master of Surrealism, blending
illusion, fantasy, and technical virtuosity. The exhibition captured his
multifaceted career as a painter, sculptor, filmmaker, and illustrator,
emphasizing his “Surrealism for all” ethos. Works like the Divine Comedy
and Don Quixote illustrations showcased his engagement with literary
classics, while experimental techniques like Bulletism highlighted his
innovative spirit.
Berlin’s Cultural Landscape
Potsdamer
Platz, once a no-man’s-land divided by the Berlin Wall, became a symbol
of reunified Berlin’s modernity. The Dalí exhibition complemented this
narrative, offering a cutting-edge cultural experience in a city known
for its blend of history and innovation. Its proximity to landmarks like
the Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island positioned it as a key attraction
for art lovers.
Private Museum Model
As a privately-funded
museum, it operated without public subsidies, a rarity in Germany. Its
success—ranking in the top 10% of German museums for visitor
numbers—demonstrated the viability of independent cultural institutions,
though fees for extras like photography sparked debate about
accessibility.
Educational Impact
The Dalí_Scouts and
multimedia guides made complex surrealist concepts accessible, appealing
to both novices and experts. The exhibition’s focus on Dalí’s graphic
works and lesser-known experiments enriched art historical discourse,
complementing major Dalí museums in Spain and the U.S.
Critical
Perspective
The exhibition excelled in showcasing Dalí’s versatility
but was critiqued for its focus on prints over paintings, reflecting the
private collection’s limitations. The small space and occasional
crowding detracted from the experience, and the reliance on guided tours
for deeper insights frustrated budget-conscious visitors. Compared to
the Figueres Dalí Theatre-Museum, Berlin’s exhibition was more compact
but equally ambitious in its educational goals. Its closure in 2021 left
a gap in Berlin’s art scene, with hopes for a future reopening.
Location and Access
Address: Leipziger Platz 7, 10117 Berlin,
Germany (Potsdamer Platz).
Public Transport:
S-Bahn: S1, S2,
S25 to Potsdamer Platz.
U-Bahn: U2 to Potsdamer Platz.
Bus: M41,
M48, M85, 200 to Potsdamer Platz.
Regional Train: RE 3, RE 4, RE 5,
RB 10.
Walking Directions:
From Brandenburg Gate: 10 minutes
via Ebertstraße.
From Checkpoint Charlie: 15 minutes via
Friedrichstraße.
Parking: Atrium Tower garage or Potsdamer Platz
Arkaden.
Hours and Admission (2021)
Hours:
January–June:
Daily, 12 p.m.–8 p.m. (last entry 7 p.m.).
July–August: Daily, 10
a.m.–8 p.m. (last entry 7 p.m.).
September–December: Daily, 12 p.m.–8
p.m. (last entry 7 p.m.).
Closed: December 24.
Admission:
Adults: €12–€14.
Students/Seniors: €10.
Children (under 16): €8.
Family Ticket: €31 (2 adults, 3 children under 16).
Guided Tour:
Additional €5–€7 (45–60 minutes).
Audio Guide: €3–€5, available in
multiple languages.
Photography Fee: €2 (due to copyright; otherwise
prohibited).
Cloakroom/Lockers: €1–€2.
Tickets: Available online
(www.daliberlin.de, GetYourGuide, Musement) with skip-the-line options
or at the entrance. Berlin WelcomeCard offered discounts.
Guided
Tours: Public tours at 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m.;
private tours bookable for groups, schools, or art experts.
Visiting Tips (Historical)
Duration: 1.5–2 hours for a full visit;
2–2.5 hours with a guided tour.
Best Time: Weekday afternoons to
avoid crowds; July–August mornings for extended hours.
Photography:
Permitted with a €2 fee; non-flash only to protect artworks.
Accessibility: Fully accessible with wheelchair-friendly rooms and an
external lift. Staff assistance available.
Family-Friendly: Suitable
for ages 10+, with engaging tours and multimedia guides. Younger
children may find surrealist themes complex.
Combined Visits: Paired
well with nearby Deutsches Spionagemuseum (5 minutes), Potsdamer Platz
Arkaden (2 minutes), or Museum Island (15 minutes by public transport).
Dining: Museum café offered light refreshments; nearby Lindenbräu or
Atrium Tower restaurants provided diverse options.
Shop: Sold
catalogs (€7–€20), pocket guides (€2.80), and Dalí-themed souvenirs
(postcards, prints, figurines).
Current Status (May 2025)
The
museum is closed, and no new location has been announced. Check
www.daliberlin.de or www.berlin.de for updates on a potential reopening.
Alternative Dalí experiences include the Dalí Theatre-Museum in
Figueres, Spain, or temporary exhibitions in Berlin, such as those at
the Neue Nationalgalerie.
Dalí – The Exhibition at Potsdamer Platz was a bold addition to
Berlin’s cultural landscape, reflecting the city’s post-reunification
embrace of modernity and diversity. Its focus on Dalí’s graphic and
experimental works offered a fresh perspective on an artist often
reduced to his melting clocks, aligning with Berlin’s reputation for
challenging artistic norms. The exhibition’s private funding model set
it apart from state-supported museums, highlighting the potential and
challenges of independent cultural ventures.
The closure in 2021,
after 13 years, underscores the fragility of such initiatives in a
competitive art market. Its planned reopening suggests ongoing demand
for Dalí’s work, but the lack of a confirmed site as of 2023 raises
questions about its future. Compared to Vienna’s Haus der Musik or
Mozarthaus, which focus on music, the Dalí exhibition was more niche,
appealing to art enthusiasts but less broadly accessible due to its
specialized focus and fees. Its legacy lies in its “edutainment”
approach, making surrealism approachable through guided tours and
multimedia, a model that could inspire future exhibitions.