In the exhibition you will see many photos of artists from all over the world. What kinds of stories do they tell? When did they take place? First, the group will embark on a discovery tour of the exhibition. The children will look at the works closely and exchange ideas. Then they can give free rein to their imagination and tell stories in a new or different way.

What are photographers occupied with at a time when millions of photos are taken, posted, and sent out by people every day? What are their themes? What do the pictures say about our time and how were they realized photographically? A tour of the exhibition is like a journey through time. Encompassing over 60 photographs, Time Present unfolds a panorama of contemporary photographic art. Then different stories about and interpretations of selected works will be discussed, as well as the question of what photography means in the age of digital reproducibility.

“What do you dream about?” artist Cao Fei asked factory workers in China and requested that they portray their dreams of the future. And Japanese artist Miwa Yanagi asked young women to envision themselves in 50 years and represented these wishes in photographs. After exploring these and other works in the exhibition, the focus wil be on the children’s wishes and dreams. They can reproduce their dreams in a drawing.

Like photography, life has both dark and bright sides. Kerstin Hau’s story of an unusual friendship addresses this. The shaggy one with shaggy fur lives in a dark country and is sad because he has lost his home. The gentle one, however, lives in a world of light and colors but is curious about the dark side next door. They cautiously venture into each other’s strange world. For the illustrations, Julie Völk used an old technique from the early days of photography: cyanotype. The children participating can use this technique to create their own pictures.

In cooperation with Krumulus bookstore

Photo: ©NordSüd Verlag

Can pictures make noise? Be soft as a summer wind or loud as a thunderclap? The Berliner Philharmoniker and the PalaisPopulaire invite kindergarteners to a musical exhibition expedition! A visit to the show can be a first concert experience for them, inviting them to join in, but also to listen and watch. Together with the children, members of the Berliner Philharmoniker explore the exhibitions at the PalaisPopulaire with art, music, and exciting instruments.

Photo: Alina Simmelbauer

Over 50 years ago Christo began to wrap and tie up everyday objects using paper, foil, and fabric. Some of the objects in his Packages series will be viewed on a tour of the exhibition. What is under the covering? Did Christo wrap the object to preserve or hide it? Afterwards, each child can pack and tie up an object he or she brings from home. Can the others guess what is under the wrapping?

The popular artist couple Christo and Jeanne-Claude succeeded in getting people across all social classes interested in their actions in which they wrapped buildings or landscapes. During a joint tour, the genesis of some of their major projects, including the Wrapping of the Reichstag in 1995, will be traced and early objects will be viewed. What constitutes the visionary power of their art and what significance do their actions have for society? These and other questions can be discussed later in class.

This picture book tells the story of a stone that is simply there yet constantly changes its form, color, and function. While for the snail the stone is a mountain, for the beetle it offers protection. Like Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s art, stones are always changing, altering our perception of them. Will the same thing happen when the children pack and tie up stones using different materials?

In cooperation with Krumulus