Art in urban space: A new chapter opens on Leipziger Straße!

Art in urban space: A new chapter opens on Leipziger Straße!

On October 13, 2025, a significant project will be completed in Berlin: the Art in Urban Space project on Leipziger Straße, known as KISR. District Mayor Stefanie Remlinger announced the successful implementation of this initiative, which has been carried out over two years, since March 2024. The goal of KISR is to integrate art into public places and thus illuminate social and historical aspects of urban life.

Three artistic interventions were implemented as part of the project: Christof Zwiener designed the Gertraudenhain and dealt with topics such as sustainability and participation. Diadéo Trésor by Kandis Friesen staged a fragment of the former Wertheim department store, while the group msk7 addressed historical and current divisions with the three-part installation “rübermachen”. These artworks are part of an effort to create new perspectives on the environment and reflect relevant social issues.

Series of events and closing ceremony

Accompanying the installations was a series of events entitled “Visiting…” by Poligonal. A highlight was the listening session for Diadéo trésor on September 10, 2025, followed by a finale on September 12, which included tours, talks and a live piano cabaret in the Spittelkolonnade. These events were free to access and took place mostly outdoors to promote the interactive nature of art in urban space.

An exhibition presenting competition entries entitled “DISLOCATIONS—on the spot” opened on September 14, 2025. This exhibition in the Kunst Raum Mitte, which is open until November 23rd, addresses social changes in Berlin-Mitte since reunification and is accompanied by an accompanying program of performances, such as that by Raul Walch on November 1st and 2nd.

More cultural highlights

There was also an exhibition “Cemetery of the Nameless” in the Wedding Gallery, which can be seen from September 13, 2025. Artist Pınar Öğrenci addresses ecological, historical and social aspects in her work. The community space “Emergent Archive” will also open from September 13th in the studio room of the Wedding Gallery and will be available to anyone interested until February 1st, 2026.

The state of Berlin supports such art projects in public spaces through investment funds supported by the federal program “Sustainable Inner Cities and Centers” and the Senate Department for Culture. These projects are part of a long-standing tradition of artistic engagement with urban space and contribute to strengthening the culture of competition and the public discourse about contemporary art. Information on the framework conditions for artistic projects in the Mitte district is available on the initiatives' websites.

In addition, the Moabit freight station memorial site will commemorate the deportations between 1942 and 1944, which will also give the artistic projects a socio-political dimension.

For further information, please contact the press office of the Mitte district office at the email address presse@ba-mitte.berlin.de available.