Germany

Berlin

Cultural History

Contemporary Arts

California-born and Berlin-based artist Christine Sun Kim spotlights the visual spaces you should visit in the German capital.

Born to Korean parents and raised in California, it's in 2008 that Christine Sun Kim first made the visit to Berlin. The German capital inspired her to work with sound as a medium, and the city later became her permanent place of residence. Through her practice, Christine explores the politics of sound and how it's used as a social currency. Motifs that often crop up in her work include musical notation and American Sign Language (ASL). This is implemented through drawings, paintings, performance, large-scale murals and videos; all of which have seen her exhibited in galleries around the world, from Los Angeles to Beijing.

, and runs until 21 May 2023. Conceived during her residency at the arts hub, Christine has created four paintings based on sign as shapes, focusing on the physical movement of the language and its edges. As the exhibition is currently underway, we caught up with the visual and sound artist in London. Here, she selects her favourite art spaces in her home city, Berlin.

It’s a former power plant and they do concerts really well. I’ve been there a few times on invitation from my friends who performed at Atonal Festival as LABOUR.

A well curated exhibition of the Boros collection in a huge bunker that changes every four years – what more do you want? Just make sure to book ahead of time.


It was one of the first places I visited when I came to Berlin. I’ve been to the memorials in Washington, D.C. so many times but nothing compares to the scale of this.

A residency programme and building in Wedding. I really enjoy attending my friends’ open studios, performances and rehearsals there. Just generally good vibes. Now my good friend Isabel Parkes works there, be sure to say hi.

Perfect, colourful place to visit when Berlin gets really grey during the winter.

Similar Guides

Christine Sun Kim on Berlin’s Art Spaces

deadHYPE

Creative collective deadHYPE spill the juice on their favourite spots around Berlin. Known best for championing “BBG” (beats, bass and grime) their multidisciplinary approach has made them the go to musicians and event curators in Berlin.

Come by on a Saturday as we are also doing radio, so you get to see some of Berlin's best DJs

Book a table in advance and order the pistachio kofta.

Head to the champagne bar. Get any Blanc de blancs!

Always a great exhibition, extremely well curated - go in the week as it's really relaxed.

A lot to take in so book the tour ahead of time

Amazing lunch spot also good for fresh meat and fish

If you come and need a haircut go to Reydy - it's about 20€. He's a legend and can really cut (go to the back and ask for Reydy explicitly).

Boros Bunker

Related Guides