Berlin’s Feuerle Collection: Is the Meditation Experience Worth It?

Okay, so you’re in Berlin, you’ve checked out the Brandenburg Gate, perhaps wandered along the East Side Gallery, and now you are looking for something totally different? Maybe something that touches your soul a bit? The Feuerle Collection, located in a converted WWII bunker, is just that place; a spot promising both art and, rather, contemplation. I guess the question is, does it deliver on its very lofty promises?

What is the Feuerle Collection Exactly?

Basically, it’s a collection of art put together by Désiré Feuerle. I feel, just, really need to start there. He’s brought together Imperial Chinese furniture and some older Southeast Asian art along with some very modern pieces. All this lives inside a bunker kind of resurrected by John Pawson. It might sound odd, putting all these different things together, but I must tell you, very often, the contrasts totally work.

A great deal of the collection kind of explores themes of time, spirituality, and, yes, change, urging you to kind of pause and ponder. This place isn’t just about viewing art, like your standard gallery. Rather, its offering an experience, asking you to engage very closely, not to mention deeply, with everything you’re seeing. I think the bunker itself really adds something too, its tough concrete shell offering a space almost cut off from the frenzy of Berlin, which sits outside its walls.

The Meditation Experience: A Different Way to See Art

Arguably the core experience on offer here is a guided meditation which takes place right in the middle of the art. Now, if you’re a bit hesitant or new to this whole meditation thing, do not stress. So, it’s structured in a way that suits all skill levels, beginning with just easy breathwork that’s all about finding your center.

I would say, as you progress, the meditation kind of weaves with the artworks surrounding you. Rather than passively viewing them, I would say you’re encouraged to really feel them, to reflect upon them. Very interesting, the guide, usually someone trained, very much encourages you to make associations and maybe feel things as they rise, so, and to consider why each artwork makes you feel this way. In a way, this could very much deepen your appreciation and perhaps even yourself. Basically, it turns art viewing into a real active thing, more immersive in practice and concept. To be fair, there’s something undeniably special about meditating within walls steeped with pieces full of stories and history, yet I must note, some people might just find it a little pretentious, yet.

The Art: Old Meets New, East Dances with West

You’ll probably come across fantastic pieces of furniture hailing from China’s Imperial times that definitely command attention through the sheer refinement on display. It also features, somewhat, an amazing assortment of Southeast Asian sculpture. Again, like your average museum, this isn’t necessarily trying to lay things out chronologically; the collection tends, perhaps, to focus on feelings evoked through a cultural mixing.

I suppose that in many places you can kind of view art behind barriers, roped off and separate, you know? Basically, the Feuerle Collection tends, instead, to urge you to just get closer to things, to almost, possibly, touch them (though, naturally, I think we should not), to spend lots of time considering little elements. The mixing together is possibly best shown through putting ancient wooden things with modern photos or modern-looking art made centuries before photography was ever discovered! I feel you should bring yourself here if your head has, like, room to consider such crazy mash-ups and combos.

Ambiance and Setting: The Bunker Effect

Right, the space alone should tell you something here. I think, once, a phone exchange sitting very unglamorously and stubbornly amidst Berlin, now, though, transformed via very talented designers. The rough look is definitely still there. Very unadorned concrete looms everywhere, forming long corridors and, too, expansive spaces. These very cavernous expanses are possibly, really, an ideal foil to every piece of artwork showcased.

There is some special care regarding atmosphere and lighting too. This is totally deliberate. The gentle glow which bounces softly all through concrete surfaces definitely inspires peace plus also makes considering things quite comfortable. Obviously, that old cold feeling from the original bunker isn’t gone; it’s possibly made anew; very much, like, a cocoon from that hubbub lying just outside.

What to Expect From Your Visit

Just keep in mind, basically, that Feuerle doesn’t quite function like standard art attractions might. Basically, you could reserve visits online ahead of time and then turn up when scheduled, as there just isn’t entry provided at your whim. It might mean less spontaneous roaming than hoped for, however, it very surely helps greatly to control how dense that place actually gets when filled.

So, too it’s almost the point not to zoom throughout very quickly and instead to soak it totally right on in through slowly considering art in total silence. You might think that sounds kinda scary, right? Really, if you want just photos to stick somewhere online really fast, just do other things in Berlin first. You’re allowed plenty of time actually sitting here, basically; perhaps up close viewing some pieces, maybe quietly considering meaning, really appreciating this whole setting as totally curated.

Is the Feuerle Collection Worth It?

The experience really doesn’t come too cheaply, it should be made extremely known, when considering costs related to admission (and also thinking whether you might want to do meditation). Is spending that much very worth it though? Well, really depends where all you place the emphasis actually. Should just simple ‘viewing some nice looking art’ have been what actually drives you? I’m feeling that better suited options probably sit elsewhere entirely, then.

It tends to prove rather rewarding actually for others, more deeply wanting, or at minimum simply seeking to experience the rather uncommon mixture which melds serenity via consideration plus great ancient artwork pieces amongst such very cool historical spots right close smack within central Berlin’s beating heart. If some different stuff’s on tap for you as that describes, totally try this!

Tips for Visiting the Feuerle Collection

So, wanting to make the best use from something resembling a Feuerle outing might include the rather conscious considerations for elements that, obviously, allow great visits normally and also may potentially specifically highlight ones, perhaps?

• Get Tickets Planned Out in Advance: Very nearly be sure, so to have secured things regarding those spots really ahead somehow due completely and only strictly scheduled entry being allowed there, anyway; this part should prove particularly necessary should one find specific meditational experience desired!
• Find that Inner Calm, sort of: Enter quite clear plus mentally set prior should such contemplations and reflective deep pondering then resonate totally smoothly during entire length, definitely sort of? I think.
• Think in Comfortable Clothing: So you want perhaps the slightly unrestrictive plus very comforting clothes due great degrees in consideration regarding seated mindfulness meditations involved when, as mentioned previously and arguably maybe sort of repeatedly (probably?).
• No rush, slow down perhaps? You do greatly want probably dedicating the quite adequate period maybe even simply sitting quite slowly just perhaps quite closely considering aspects plus completely soak ambiance through the place perhaps at reasonable rates somewhat, okay kind of?

Frequently Asked Questions

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