Capitol Art

Here is the ultimate must-see for Berlin-Schöneberg: just a stone’s throw from the niu Dwarf you can find the museum for contemporary and urban art. The Urban Nation Museum is no wild melting pot or art. It is a place of inspiration and impressively mirrors the cultural zeitgeist. 

There is nothing more recent: the museum presents a new facade in 2020. The new outer design is by artist Dave the Chimp and four other Berlin artists, all of which plead for more solidarity—a topic that is on everyone’s mind right now. This is street art. This is Berlin. 

Once you are here, you should try a little digression towards the Martha Cooper Library (MCL), which is integrated into the museum and probably the best and most extensive research library on graffiti, street art and urban art. Learn about the history, the variety, and the expressions of these amazing art styles. It is well worth it.  

Martha-Love: the continuously growing collection of the library is based on donations and permanent grants of publications and archival materials by Martha Cooper. For those of you who don’t know Martha: Born 1942 in Baltimore, Maryland, it is due to her work as a photojournalist that we know about the development of the New York Hip Hop scene and got to see their work. More so, the 1984 publication „Subway Art“ (together with Henry Chalfant) has become a bible of sorts to the graffiti scene. This book has made New York’s graffiti movement and its spraying of subway cars world-famous and radically changed the perspective on New York’s underground culture. Martha is possibly the most important documentarian of graffiti and street art.

We think the Urban Nation Museum is worth a trip to Berlin in itself. After this onslaught of impressions, if you are in need of a place to relax and get centered, then our Berlin houses the niu Dwarf and the niu Hide are just the thing. 

Another insider: The design of our the niu Hide is inspired by the urban art form of graffiti as well. Thanks, Martha!

We will meet in Berlin!

Opening hours, museum: Tue to Sun: 11:00 - 16:00 h

URBAN NATION - MUSEUM FOR URBAN CONTEMPORARY ART

Address: Bülowstraße 7, 10783 Berlin, Deutschland