I Support Tacheles!

I arrived in Berlin in the late afternoon on a Friday, and after settling in with my CouchSurfing host, I went out for the evening to explore the city a little bit with Shana (my roommate in Poland). We didn't know very much about the city and it was already getting dark outside, so we just wandered. The first noteworthy thing we stumbled upon was the Brandenburg Gate, brightly illuminated, imposing and impressive.

We weren't really sure what to do in the city at night because we didn't feel like going out but still wanted to do something, so we just chose a stop on the metro and got off; Orienburger was the stop, and we hit the jackpot (well, in my opinion at least, ha!) Upon walking up from the metro, the first two blocks were scattered with women who were very clearly working the street. After those few blocks, we reached a booming area of restaurants, night clubs, and alternative art centers/squats. The most amazing thing I encountered in the entirety of Berlin we accidently stumbled upon.

Tacheles is a squat occupied by a group of artists who have turned the building into their studio/gallery space, as well as a space with bars and places to just hang out and be. The atmosphere was unlike anything I'd ever experienced, something reminiscent of New York in the 80s perhaps. Don't be deterred by the overwhelming smell of urine present at the entrance to the building, the upstairs floors are filled with the aroma of incense (perhaps to cover up the smell of marijuana). As an artist, I was incredibly inspired. It was kind of everything I have always wanted; a place where art is valued but money is irrelevant. A place where you can show and sell artwork on the floor with labels written in sharpie on torn pieces of notebook paper. A place where a gallery can have dirt on the floor and graffiti on the walls. A place where it doesn't matter if your canvas is stretched perfectly and the staples are showing on the sides. A place where trash becomes art and whoever you are, however you are, is perfectly acceptable. The artists respectfully ask that photos not be taken in the studio/exhibition space itself so photos are of the building and other spaces.

Unfortunately, the lease for Tacheles ran out in 2008 and the building has been purchased by a corporation. To my understanding, Tacheles will be closing within the next month, which for many Berliners will in a way mark the end of an era. There is a huge movement right now of "I Support Tacheles!" to try to keep it open; only time will tell..