One of the biggest reasons I chose Berlin as my study away site was because of the amazing art the city has to offer. Since moving here, I have been exposed to art on an almost daily basis--whether it be in the form of graffiti on the street, art installations, museums, theater, or operas. Through art, I have been able to connect with Berlin as a city and with its history.
While in Berlin, I have had the amazing opportunity to have a studio space with my school at St. Agnes. St. Agnes is a church built in the 1960s that has since been turned into an art studio. The church was founded in 1925, but along with the city, it was destroyed during World War II. The structure as it stands today was later rebuilt in 1967 by German architect Werner Düttmann, and by 2011, it became an art studio.
This brutalist structure, which sits within the city of Kreuzberg, is a testament to the ways Berlin rebuilt itself in the postwar period. Having access to such a historic building has been inspiring, helping me develop my art-making process and encouraging me to think more deeply about the role art plays in our daily lives.
Another highlight of my time in Berlin has been the opportunity to explore Museum Island.
