Humboldt Forum to Host 'Here and Gone' Exhibition Honoring Palace of the Republic
Berlin's Humboldt Forum is set to host a significant exhibition, 'Here and gone. The Republic of the Palace is present', from May 17, 2024, to February 16, 2025. The exhibition aims to spark dialogue about 'East-West in the now and today' and preserve the legacy of the Republic of the Palace, a symbol of united Germany.
The Republic of the Palace, built between 1973 and 1976, served as the seat of the Volkskammer and housed various event spaces. It was demolished between 2006 and 2008 following a 2003 decision by the German Bundestag due to asbestos contamination and historical, cultural, and political controversies.
The Humboldt Forum, reconstructed on the same site from 2013, has swiftly become one of Berlin's most popular museums, attracting 200,000 more visitors in 2023 than the previous year. The upcoming exhibition draws from around seventy interviews with witnesses and actors involved with the Republic of the Palace before and after its demolition.
The exhibition 'Here and gone. The Republic of the Palace is present' seeks to honour the past while encouraging reflection on the present and future of German unity. It is expected to attract a wide audience, adding to the Humboldt Forum's growing popularity.
