Family Weekend – Unforgettable Memories

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The first weekend of the summer break was a true highlight for families at Teufelsberg. With sunny skies and hot temperatures, numerous visitors came to enjoy our special Family Weekend. It was the perfect start to the summer holidays, offering plenty of fun and adventure for all ages.

Upon entering the sight, delicious smells from various food trucks greeted everyone. Jimmys Foodtruck treated guests to juicy hamburgers and crispy fries. First Love Coffee, now a permanent spot at Teufelsberg, offered a variety of coffee specialties alongside delicious waffles and muffins. Special drinks and treats for children were particularly well received. For those craving something savory, Puchica Pupusas provided authentic stuffed corn tortillas, a specialty from El Salvador. Liliana, the cook, prepared the pupusas using traditional recipes from her grandmother and mother. Eisspatz offered refreshing, homemade ice cream creations to help everyone cool down on this hot day.

The lively atmosphere featured lots of activities for both children and adults. Kids could burn off their energy on the bouncy castle or play exciting rounds of table tennis. For more action, tricycles and Kettcars, provided by our partner Kettler, were available. Children had a blast, and parents enjoyed nostalgic moments or even joined in the fun.

A special highlight was the graffiti workshop organized by Urban Artists Berlin. Under expert and friendly guidance, kids and adults unleashed their creativity, makinf their own artworks on paper and canvases. It was impressive to see the enthusiasm and talent participants displayed.

The absolute highlight of the weekend was undoubtedly our new interactive puzzle rally. In this exciting game, children can test their detective skills to see if they have what it takes to be a spy. The rally leads them through various stations, where they have to solve tricky puzzles. These challenges are closely tied to the history of Teufelsberg and the impressive street art that adorns the area. At the end of the rally, a reward awaits those who can successfully complete all the tasks.

The puzzle rally was a huge success, bringing smiles to the children’s faces. It was wonderful to see the young spies eagerly and enthusiastically participating. The good news: this exciting rally is now permanently available to all visitors of Teufelsberg. So, a visit in the future is definitely worthwhile to follow in the footsteps of spies and adventurers.

Our family weekend was organized as a kick-off to the summer holidays to offer an unforgettable start to the best time of the year. The many positive feedback as well as the smiles and joy on the children’s faces show that we succeeded. Parents and children alike had fun and enjoyed the diverse activities and offerings. Would you like to get a glimpse of the Family Weekend at Teufelsberg? Check out our Instagram reel and experience the highlights up close!

We sincerely thank all visitors and partners who made this weekend so memorable. Special thanks to the food truck operators, Urban Artists Berlin for the exciting graffiti workshop, and of course Kettler for providing the tricycles and Kettcars. Without you, this weekend would not have been the same.

For those who missed the Family Weekend: Don’t worry, Teufelsberg still has a lot to offer. Come by, participate in our interactive puzzle rally, enjoy the fresh air, and the unique atmosphere of this special place. Summer at Teufelsberg is far from over: we now offer daily guided tours. So, book your tour here and experience Teufelsberg in all its diversity.

See you soon at Teufelsberg!

Letter F – A Touch of Surrealism

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Are you ready to delve into the next captivating chapter of the #FreiheitBerlin series? You do not have to wait any longer! In this article, we are excited to introduce you to Juli Jahh, the brilliant mind behind the fascinating letter ‘F’. If you have not read the story behind the #FreiheitBerlin lettering or the articles about the previous letters, we recommend starting there.

Unleashing Imagination

Meet Juli Jahh, a captivating Lithuanian-Polish multidisciplinary artist whose work spans analogue drawing, illustration, murals and live painting. Her artworks exude a delicate balance of fragility and expression. Her use of colour and black ink creates an impressive tension that draws the viewer in. These expressive elements are combined with sharp, angular, or curvy lines, resulting in a range of pieces from informal caricatures to stunningly detailed and realistic portrayals. However, it is her exploration of surrealist ideas that most defines her work, inviting you into her delusional world to engage with and explore.

Juli’s drawing process is as simple as it is powerful: she faces a blank sheet of paper and lets her emotions and thoughts flow freely. This creative act serves as a cathartic ritual, providing relief in the warm embrace of solitude.

Experiment at Teufelsberg

Domcast is a sound installation and podcast series featuring ambient, experimental live performances that use the dome at Teufelsberg as a natural parabolic reverb. This project is a collaboration between Dots Gallery and 11001 Records. During one of these performances, Juli Jah painted live, inspired by the sounds of musicians like Jiawen Wang and Bruno Gola. She played with splashes of paint, organic shapes, and lines guided by the music. Within a few hours, she created an impressive mural. However, for Juli Jah, it was more about the creative experiment than the result.

 

Freedom as a Path to Transformation

When you observe the letter “F” in #FreiheitBerlin, you will quickly recognize Juli’s signature style—the fragile yet powerful colours, the bold lines, and the surreal atmosphere that invites you to step into another world. Her art beckons you to leave reality behind and delve into the depths of her imagination.

 

“The concept of the letter ‘F’ is based on life’s experiences. People often avoid and disown negative, traumatic events instead of confronting them. Rejection is not validation; only by sitting with ourselves can we find deeper meaning. There are no coincidences, only synchronizations; every situation and emotion are a source of knowledge if we look deeper.” Juli explains. “Freedom is transformation. Freedom might be painful but crucial to transform and thrive. Some things you can learn only in the dark, by choosing the consequence for the sake of just being yourself. The Berlin Bear, cracks, organic ornaments, and the colour red—all hold significant symbolism, complemented by the text on the other side of the letter. I invite viewers to interpret these symbols according to their own experiences, beliefs, and perspectives.”

In the end, you do not have to necessarily like an artist’s style or art; you just need to understand the reason behind it. Juli’s art represents her personal truth, and to truly understand it, you must genuinely desire to see it.

Do you want to see the letters in person? Book our Street Art Tour and let Juli’s unique interpretation of freedom inspire you. Stay tuned, because we will soon reveal the secrets behind the other letters. Do not miss out on the chance to uncover the incredible stories and artistry that make up #FreiheitBerlin.

Nina Valkhoff – Endangered Beauty

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Imagine walking on the grounds of Teufelsberg and coming face to face with a majestic tiger that seems to leap off the wall. Surely, you would want to know more about the meaning behind it. If so, we are thrilled to introduce you today to one of our remarkable muralists, Nina Valkhoff.

Vibrant Art with a Message

Nina is a Dutch muralist and painter from Rotterdam, where she studied illustration at the Willem de Kooning Art Academy. With over 20 years of professional experience, she has created stunning murals around the globe. Her work can be seen in countries like Sweden, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Argentina, Portugal, Mexico, France, Curaçao, the UK, Germany, Monaco, and Ireland. If during your travels you have ever admired a captivating mural of flora and fauna on an apartment building, restaurant, office, or shop, there is a good chance you have encountered Nina’s vibrant artwork.

Creating large mural paintings is Nina’s passion. Her unique style focuses on depicting plants and animals, with a special emphasis on endangered species. Through her art, she aims to raise awareness about these creatures and showcase their beauty. Nina’s work makes a powerful statement about our selective love for more familiar or common animals, urging us to appreciate and protect all species, especially those at risk.

Her style is realistic with a touch of fantasy; she loves incorporating colors that aren’t originally there to create a vibrant yet realistic image. With a lot of attention to detail and a deep love for nature, she designs her works to make the world a little happier. Street art doesn’t always have a profound message. Sometimes, its value lies simply in making different areas and neighborhoods more beautiful and picturesque.

But how does Nina create these massive artworks? To work safely at great heights, she uses a mobile aerial work platform and a safety harness. She begins her process by creating a grid of square sections, which she overlays on her design to accurately transfer the sketch lines onto the wall. Once the sketch is on the wall, the grid lines are painted over with white. Then, Nina fills large areas with color, gradually adding details like light and shadow effects, making the animals and plants appear increasingly realistic. On average, it takes her about 10 days to complete a mural.

Tiger in Focus

In line with her mission, Nina created a stunning tiger mural at Teufelsberg in March 2024 during our Power of Female Art Festival. Her creation certainly achieves its purpose—the majestic tiger looms over you, evoking a sense of awe and making you reflect on the plight of this magnificent species. The painting is dynamic and playful, with a hit of magic.

 

“I am really obsessed with tigers at the moment,” Nina shares. “Of course, it is an endangered species. I let myself get inspired by the walls around me. I think it really fits; it fits the place. Part of the design, the background is the original background that I found on the wall. I changed it a little bit with spray cans, but I like to use also the sort of rougher look that Teufelsberg has to emphasize the tiger.”

Do you want to see Nina Valkhoff in action as she creates her breathtaking tiger mural at Teufelsberg? Check out our Instagram reel and experience her creative magic up close!

Are you also overwhelmed by Nina’s realistic tiger? Then you should come by and see Nina’s incredible tiger mural in person. Stay tuned, because we will be introducing many other talented artists very soon!

[nc24-03 | 07-2024]