Berlin nightlife in the 70s: exhibition shows flashy memories!

Berlin nightlife in the 70s: exhibition shows flashy memories!

The Kommunale Galerie in Berlin opened the doors to the spectacular exhibition “Berlin, you shrill bird” on Friday, July 11, 2025. This event documents the fascinating nightlife of West Berlin in the 1970s through the lens of photographer Anno Wilms. The exhibition can be seen until Sunday, September 14, 2025. Admission is free and prior registration is not required. The gallery is located at Hohenzollerndamm 176, 10713 Berlin and is open from Tuesday to Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., on Wednesday until 7 p.m. and on weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Anno Wilms dedicates her photographs to the queer scene and presents some of the most famous meeting places from back then. These include the legendary travesty and drag bar “Lützower Lampe” and the iconic nightclub “Chez Romy Haag”. These places were not only attractions for the local population, but also attracted international celebrities. Well-known personalities such as David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Grace Jones and Freddie Mercury were often to be found and had a decisive influence on the city's cultural flair. The exhibition at the Kommunale Galerie, which was created in collaboration with the Anno Wilms Foundation, reflects a piece of Berlin history that is characterized by freedom and cultural diversity.

The importance of photography

Anno Wilms' photographs are not only aesthetic, but also of great social relevance. They document life at a time when West Berlin was considered a creative center. The cultural creation included not only the art scene, but also a lively music scene. Bands like Tangerine Dream, Element of Crime and the Einstreichen Neuhäusern caused a stir and shaped the city's attitude to life.

In the 70s, Berlin was a place of experimentation, not only in art but also in terms of sexual orientation. This openness and the dynamic development of the LGBTQ movement can be clearly seen in Wilms' works and are essential for understanding this era.

Hidden stories and artistic influences

The exhibition “Berlin, you shrill bird” not only commemorates the icons of nightlife, but also offers an insight into the realities of the people who worked during this time. This also includes the important artist Tabea Blumenschein, who was active in Berlin at the same time as Ulrike Ottinger and is honored in the exhibition “ZUSAMMENSPIEL”. This exhibition shows how artist couples in the 70s and 80s challenged social norms and found creative ways to express themselves.

Important works by Ottinger, such as “The Beguilement of the Blue Sailors” and “Freak Orlando”, had a significant influence on the German film and art scene and reflect the willingness to experiment that Berlin knew at this time. Blumenschein and Ottinger embody the spirit of freedom and innovation that characterized this cultural heyday.

The exhibition “Berlin, you shrill bird” is not only a homage to bygone times, but also a symbol of Berlin's lively and diverse cultural landscape, which is still characterized by lively exchange between the different scenes today. The Municipal Gallery invites anyone interested to immerse themselves in this fascinating world and be inspired by the art and history.

Further information can be found on the Municipal Gallery website: here.