Weekend Stories by tags
- Berlin 6
- Buddhism 28
- Carnival 6
- Christian Culture 17
- Cologne 100
- Conferences 3
- Corona Pandemic 47
- Demonstration 6
- Dresden 1
- Eifel and Rhineland 23
- Göttingen 1
- History 29
- LGBT 4
- London 1
- Lost Places 8
- Museum 26
- New Year's Eve 7
- Paris 1
- Personal Opinion 26
- Photography 1
- Romania 4
- Ruhrgebiet 2
- Social Distancing 12
- Straying around 35
- Tea 4
- USA 1
- Vienna 2
- Wuppertal 4
#Berlin
September 2023
Snaps from September 2023, including a trip to Berlin (Bernstein Conference at the Humboldt University) with visits to the Museum for Asian Art in the Humboldt Forum, the Bode Museum, the Berlin Cathedral, the c/o Berlin, and the Alte Nationalgalerie.
September 2022
Snaps from September 2022, including a trip to the Eifel and Berlin (Bernstein Conference at the TU Berlin) with visits to the Altes Museum and the Bode Museum.
From London to April (Jan-Apr, 2018)
Diary excerpt from January to April 2018. Contains trips to London, Berlin and several random shots.
#Buddhism
A Zen-Buddhist interpretation of the 'Kölsches Grundgesetz'
Zen op Kölsch – I recently discovered a small booklet by Michael Wittschier, who interpreted the so-called ‘Kölsches Grundgesetz’ in a Taoist way. Taoism is a philosophical tradition of Chinese origin which emphasizes living in harmony with the Dào, a term that can be translated as ‘the way’, ‘the path’, or ‘the way of nature’. Wittschier’s interpretation is a very interesting read and I couldn’t resist to buy the booklet. However, I also thought that it would by an interesting experiment to interpret the ‘Kölsches Grundgesetz’ in a Zen-Buddhist way. So, here we go.
Helena Parada Kim's 'Interstices' - A fusion of cultures and traditions
Helena Parada Kim’s ‘Interstices’ at the Museum of East Asian Art in Cologne masterfully blends Korean traditions with European artistry, creating a dialogue between past and present. Her unique approach to cultural fusion is exemplified in works that juxtapose traditional Korean motifs with contemporary European painting techniques, offering a fresh perspective on cultural identity and arts in general.
Netsuke – The elegance of Japanese craftsmanship
The Museum of East Asian Art in Cologne is currently hosting the exhibition ‘Kyōto’s Netsuke - Masters & Myths’ to celebrate the 60-year partnership between Cologne and Kyōto. The exhibition showcases an extraordinary selection of netsuke from the Kyōto school, each piece embodying the exceptional Japanese craftsmanship and celebrating the long-standing friendship between the two cities.
December 2023
Snaps from December 2023, including a visit to the Museum for East Asian Art in Cologne, the Ruhrmuseum in Essen, and the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Cologne.
The Three Worlds
The royal illuminated manuscript ‘Traiphum’ from Bangkok, 1776, depicts the tripartite Buddhist cosmos and is a testament to King Takin’s reign after the fall of Ayutthaya. Luckily, I had the chance to see it at the Humboldt Forum in Berlin.
The Tale of Prince Vishvantara
During my recent visit to the Humboldt Forum, I came across a captivating image from a series that dates back to 1837, illustrating the life of Prince Vishvantara. This prince’s life, emblematic of unparalleled generosity, is a celebrated narrative in Buddhism, annually honored in various Southeast Asian festivals.
Exploring the Alte Nationalgalerie
Berlin’s Alte Nationalgalerie houses a vast collection of 19th century paintings and sculptures. The building itself is a work of art, and the collection is a great opportunity to discover the history of art in Germany. Here are some snapshots of my recent visit.
Exploring the Renaissance at the Bode Museum
While the Bode Museum’s medieval collection invites introspection into the raw spiritual expressions of the Gothic era, its Renaissance collection beckons with a different allure. Here are some impressions I collected during my latest visit.
The Bode Museum: A new lens on medieval art
At the heart of Berlin’s Museum Island, the Bode Museum offers a unique opportunity to engage with Christian art. The museum’s collection of medieval art, in particular, provides an intriguing opportunity to explore these artifacts outside of their traditional religious context.
The three perfections: Chinese artistic tradition
In the rich Chinese cultural history, three art forms stand out as pillars of classical education and self-expression: poetry, calligraphy, and painting. Collectively, they are known as ‘The Three Perfections’, representing the culmination of Chinese artistic tradition.
Korean ceramics: Spirituality through simplicity and purity
Korean ceramics embody a serene beauty born from simplicity, clarity, and an embrace of natural imperfections. The Humboldt Museum showcases this centuries-old tradition, offering a reflective journey into Korea’s unique interpretation of art, nature, and spirituality.
The many faces of the Buddha
The Humboldt Forum in Berlin holds an extensive collection of Buddha and Bodhisattva sculptures from all over Southeast Asia: China, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Tibet, Nepal. In this post, I’d like to show the many faces of Buddhist sculptures that I have discovered in the Forum.
The Kizil Caves
The Kizil Caves are a set of Buddhist rock-cut caves situated near Kizil, Xinjiang, China. Historically significant and renowned for their intricate murals, these caves offer a fascinating glimpse into the rich murals and sculptures of Buddhism in China and Central Asia. Artifacts recovered from the caves are displayed alongside fragments of the murals at the Humboldt Forum in Berlin.
Buddhist clay tablets from Myanmar
Another quite interesting finding I made at the Humboldt Forum were some Buddhist clay tablets from Myanmar. I was impressed by the similarities with Christian panels depicting scenes from the life of Jesus, biblical events, or saints – another example of the universality of artistic expressions across diverse cultural traditions.
Gandhara-style Buddhist sculptures
This post ties directly into my previous on The first plastic depictions of Buddha’s life: Gandhara reliefs at the Humboldt Forum, Berlin. In this post, I showcase further, quite impressive Gandhara-style Buddhist sculptures also seen at the Humboldt Museum in Berlin.
The first plastic depictions of Buddha's life: Gandhara reliefs at the Humboldt Forum, Berlin
On my visit to the Museum of Asian Art at the Humboldt Forum in Berlin, I was captivated by 15 stone reliefs depicting the Buddha’s life. Crafted in Gandhara between the 1st and 3rd century, these reliefs are among the earliest narrative representations of the Buddha. Gandhara was more than just a region; it was a melting pot of civilizations, playing an indispensable part in shaping the visual language of Buddhism.
East and West: Finding common grounds in distinct artistic traditions
I recently visited the Museum of East Asian Art and the Museum Schnütgen for European Medieval Art, both in Cologne. Having explored these museums in quick succession, I was struck by both the contrasts and surprising parallels in the artistic expressions of East and West.
September 2023
Snaps from September 2023, including a trip to Berlin (Bernstein Conference at the Humboldt University) with visits to the Museum for Asian Art in the Humboldt Forum, the Bode Museum, the Berlin Cathedral, the c/o Berlin, and the Alte Nationalgalerie.
Embracing imperfections: Kintsugi and the story of my teapot
Kintsugi, the traditional Japanese art of ‘golden joinery’, celebrates the beauty of brokenness. My experience with a cherished teapot taught me not just about repair, but about embracing imperfections and celebrating the breakage and repair as an integral part of an object’s history.
August 2023
Snaps from August 2023, including shots of my new tea ceramics, a visit to the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst, and Schnütgen Museum (all in Cologne).
August 2022
Snaps from August 2022, including a visit to the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, Schnütgen Museum and Römisch-Germanisches Museum (currently located at the Belgisches Haus) in Cologne.
March 2022
Straying around in March (Maria Laach and Cologne, including a visit to the Museum for East Asian Art).
#Carnival
February 2024
Snaps from February 2024, including the participation in the Geisterzug during the Cologne Carnival, a Saturday walk through Cologne, and the participation in the demonstration on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Roncalliplatz, Cologne).
#Christian Culture
Origins of Cologne's coat of arms
Did you ever wonder about the coat of arms of Cologne and why it is the way it is? I just did some research and found out that its history is quite interesting and also includes some funny twists.
February 2024
Snaps from February 2024, including the participation in the Geisterzug during the Cologne Carnival, a Saturday walk through Cologne, and the participation in the demonstration on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Roncalliplatz, Cologne).
The Roman origins of the Cologne Carnival
As the clock strikes 11:11 AM tomorrow, the so-called ‘Fifth Season’ begins in Cologne. The city is overrun with revelers, and the streets are bustling with people. The citizens of Cologne celebrate with unrestrained joy and, notably, a fair amount of alcohol. But where does Carnival actually come from? What are its origins, and how has it evolved over time? This post takes you on a brief journey through the history of the Cologne Carnival to shed light on the cultural background of the festival, which tends to be forgotten in today’s thoroughly commercialized carnival.
Christian ivory carvings and their comparison with Japanese netsuke: A cross-cultural analysis
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a netsuke exhibition. The exhibition was amazing! While strolling through the exhibition, I also noticed a similarity with European Christian ivory carvings. Japanese netsuke and Christian ivory carvings both have their roots in the meticulous art of ivory carving. However, they differ considerably in purpose, symbolism and stylistic expression. Unfortunately, there was no exhibition about the latter that I could have visited at the same time or before. So I searched through my photo archives and put together some examples of European ivory carvings here.
January 2024
Snaps from January 2024, including a visit to the Museum Ludwig, the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, the El-De Haus, and the Cologne Cathedral. In mid-January, something really rare happened: It snowed in Cologne. The city was covered in a white blanket, and I took the opportunity to take some pictures of the snow-covered city. We also participated in one of the many demonstrations that spontaneously sprung up across Germany at the end of the month against far-right movements and the far-right AfD party. There were 70,000 participants in Cologne alone.
December 2023
Snaps from December 2023, including a visit to the Museum for East Asian Art in Cologne, the Ruhrmuseum in Essen, and the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Cologne.
Exploring the Renaissance at the Bode Museum
While the Bode Museum’s medieval collection invites introspection into the raw spiritual expressions of the Gothic era, its Renaissance collection beckons with a different allure. Here are some impressions I collected during my latest visit.
The Bode Museum: A new lens on medieval art
At the heart of Berlin’s Museum Island, the Bode Museum offers a unique opportunity to engage with Christian art. The museum’s collection of medieval art, in particular, provides an intriguing opportunity to explore these artifacts outside of their traditional religious context.
East and West: Finding common grounds in distinct artistic traditions
I recently visited the Museum of East Asian Art and the Museum Schnütgen for European Medieval Art, both in Cologne. Having explored these museums in quick succession, I was struck by both the contrasts and surprising parallels in the artistic expressions of East and West.
August 2023
Snaps from August 2023, including shots of my new tea ceramics, a visit to the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst, and Schnütgen Museum (all in Cologne).
March 2023
Snaps from March 2023, including a visit to Maria Laach and Göttingen (Göttingen Meeting of the German Neuroscience Society).
February 2023
Snaps from February 2023, straying around in Cologne, and trips to Wuppertal, the Eifel, the Cologne Wholesale Market, and a visit to the Schnütgen Museum in Cologne.
September 2022
Snaps from September 2022, including a trip to the Eifel and Berlin (Bernstein Conference at the TU Berlin) with visits to the Altes Museum and the Bode Museum.
August 2022
Snaps from August 2022, including a visit to the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, Schnütgen Museum and Römisch-Germanisches Museum (currently located at the Belgisches Haus) in Cologne.
July 2022 (2)
The last chunk from July 2022, with a trip to the Eifel and a visit to the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum in Cologne.
April 2022
Straying around in April (Cologne, Andernach, Bad Breisig, and Aachen, including snaps of this year’s cherry blossom in Cologne).
#Cologne
The Richmodis legend – A Cologne tale
High above the Neumarkt in Cologne, two horse heads protrude from the side of a tower, sparking curiosity and wonder among both locals and visitors. These sculptures are not mere decorations but symbols of one of Cologne’s most intriguing legends—the tale of Richmodis. Here is a summary of some facts that I could gather about this local legend.
March 2024
Snaps from March 2024, including the first trip to Ahrweiler after the great flood in 2021.
Jan von Werth: A Cologne love story
The rich folklore of Cologne holds another captivating tale: The legend of Jan von Werth and Griet. A story that combines romance, valor, and enduring spirit. The legend tells the tale of a simple soldier who rose to prominence through his bravery, only to find his heart captured by the love of a woman who initially spurned him. With it’s tragic-pointed end, the story could be considered as Cologne’s own Romeo and Juliet, even though being less famous than the Shakespearean tragedy.
Tünnes and Schäl: Two Cologne icons
In Cologne, few characters are as beloved and emblematic as Tünnes and Schäl. These two figures represent the quintessential ‘Kölsch’ spirit (Cologne’s local dialect and culture), combining humor, wit, and a touch of wisdom.
The Heinzelmännchen: Secret shadow workers of Cologne
Here is another snippet from the long list of Cologne legends: The Heinzelmännchen. The Heinzelmännchen are a legendary group of house gnomes or elves who, according to the legend, performed domestic chores and crafts in the city of Cologne during the night, leaving the inhabitants to wake up to a clean and orderly city.
Nubbelverbrennung – Another Cologne Carnival tradition
After exploring the Roman origins of the Cologne Carnival and the “Geisterzug”, I realized I had nearly overlooked another pivotal local tradition: The “Nubbelverbrennung”. The “Nubbel” is a straw puppet that is hung up and burned down at the corner of a street or a pub on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. It serves as a symbolic purification of the sins and mischiefs that have happened during the carnival.
Origins of Cologne's coat of arms
Did you ever wonder about the coat of arms of Cologne and why it is the way it is? I just did some research and found out that its history is quite interesting and also includes some funny twists.
Halve Hahn: A special dish in Cologne
If you’re currently out enjoying the Cologne carnival, you might encounter a local specialty that can cause some confusion: The ‘Halve Hahn’. Don’t be misled – this dish isn’t poultry.
February 2024
Snaps from February 2024, including the participation in the Geisterzug during the Cologne Carnival, a Saturday walk through Cologne, and the participation in the demonstration on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Roncalliplatz, Cologne).
Geisterzug: The alternative Carnival in Cologne
After exploring the Roman origins of the Cologne Carnival, we will now take a look at the alternative carnival event in Cologne called ‘Geisterzug’ (lit. ‘Ghost Parade’). It is actually a more recent addition to the Cologne Carnival tradition, starting in 1991, and can be seen as a protest against the commercialization of the today’s Cologne Carnival.
The Roman origins of the Cologne Carnival
As the clock strikes 11:11 AM tomorrow, the so-called ‘Fifth Season’ begins in Cologne. The city is overrun with revelers, and the streets are bustling with people. The citizens of Cologne celebrate with unrestrained joy and, notably, a fair amount of alcohol. But where does Carnival actually come from? What are its origins, and how has it evolved over time? This post takes you on a brief journey through the history of the Cologne Carnival to shed light on the cultural background of the festival, which tends to be forgotten in today’s thoroughly commercialized carnival.
A Zen-Buddhist interpretation of the 'Kölsches Grundgesetz'
Zen op Kölsch – I recently discovered a small booklet by Michael Wittschier, who interpreted the so-called ‘Kölsches Grundgesetz’ in a Taoist way. Taoism is a philosophical tradition of Chinese origin which emphasizes living in harmony with the Dào, a term that can be translated as ‘the way’, ‘the path’, or ‘the way of nature’. Wittschier’s interpretation is a very interesting read and I couldn’t resist to buy the booklet. However, I also thought that it would by an interesting experiment to interpret the ‘Kölsches Grundgesetz’ in a Zen-Buddhist way. So, here we go.
Stumbling upon history: The Stolpersteine project and its role in remembering Nazi victims
In European and particularly German cities, you may encounter brass plaques, known as ‘Stolpersteine’ or ‘stumbling stones’, embedded in pavements in front of buildings. Inscribed with names and dates, these plaques memorialize victims of the Nazi regime at their last known addresses, serving as a poignant reminder of the individual lives lost during this dark period in Germany and our collective history and responsibility.
NS DOK El-De Haus: Retracing the steps of Nazi history in Cologne
I recently visited the El-De Haus in Cologne, a former center of the Gestapo and now the NS Documentation Centre of Cologne, which left a profound impression on me. The house is not like other museums; it is a storyteller of a dark chapter in Cologne’s history and a stark reminder of the horrors that totalitarian regimes can inflict. What I liked most is that the documentation center focuses on the story of victims and the resistance to the Nazi regime, giving them much more space than the perpetrators. Here is a summary of the exhibition, coupled with my personal reflections.
Christian ivory carvings and their comparison with Japanese netsuke: A cross-cultural analysis
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a netsuke exhibition. The exhibition was amazing! While strolling through the exhibition, I also noticed a similarity with European Christian ivory carvings. Japanese netsuke and Christian ivory carvings both have their roots in the meticulous art of ivory carving. However, they differ considerably in purpose, symbolism and stylistic expression. Unfortunately, there was no exhibition about the latter that I could have visited at the same time or before. So I searched through my photo archives and put together some examples of European ivory carvings here.
January 2024
Snaps from January 2024, including a visit to the Museum Ludwig, the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, the El-De Haus, and the Cologne Cathedral. In mid-January, something really rare happened: It snowed in Cologne. The city was covered in a white blanket, and I took the opportunity to take some pictures of the snow-covered city. We also participated in one of the many demonstrations that spontaneously sprung up across Germany at the end of the month against far-right movements and the far-right AfD party. There were 70,000 participants in Cologne alone.
Helena Parada Kim's 'Interstices' - A fusion of cultures and traditions
Helena Parada Kim’s ‘Interstices’ at the Museum of East Asian Art in Cologne masterfully blends Korean traditions with European artistry, creating a dialogue between past and present. Her unique approach to cultural fusion is exemplified in works that juxtapose traditional Korean motifs with contemporary European painting techniques, offering a fresh perspective on cultural identity and arts in general.
Netsuke – The elegance of Japanese craftsmanship
The Museum of East Asian Art in Cologne is currently hosting the exhibition ‘Kyōto’s Netsuke - Masters & Myths’ to celebrate the 60-year partnership between Cologne and Kyōto. The exhibition showcases an extraordinary selection of netsuke from the Kyōto school, each piece embodying the exceptional Japanese craftsmanship and celebrating the long-standing friendship between the two cities.
December 2023
Snaps from December 2023, including a visit to the Museum for East Asian Art in Cologne, the Ruhrmuseum in Essen, and the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Cologne.
October 2023
Snaps from October 2023, including a trip to the Japanese Gardenꜛ and an ikebana exhibitionꜛ in Leverkusen, a visit to the Apollinaris Church in Remagen, a rugby match of the Cologne Crushersꜛ, a trip to Linz on the Rhine, and a visit to the Cologne Fair.
East and West: Finding common grounds in distinct artistic traditions
I recently visited the Museum of East Asian Art and the Museum Schnütgen for European Medieval Art, both in Cologne. Having explored these museums in quick succession, I was struck by both the contrasts and surprising parallels in the artistic expressions of East and West.
September 2023
Snaps from September 2023, including a trip to Berlin (Bernstein Conference at the Humboldt University) with visits to the Museum for Asian Art in the Humboldt Forum, the Bode Museum, the Berlin Cathedral, the c/o Berlin, and the Alte Nationalgalerie.
August 2023
Snaps from August 2023, including shots of my new tea ceramics, a visit to the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst, and Schnütgen Museum (all in Cologne).
April 2023
Snaps from April 2023, including a visit to the fair in Cologne, and a trip to the Eifel (‘Bunte Kuh’), including snaps of this year’s cherry blossom in the Eifel region.
March 2023
Snaps from March 2023, including a visit to Maria Laach and Göttingen (Göttingen Meeting of the German Neuroscience Society).
February 2023
Snaps from February 2023, straying around in Cologne, and trips to Wuppertal, the Eifel, the Cologne Wholesale Market, and a visit to the Schnütgen Museum in Cologne.
December 2022
Snaps from December 2022, including a visit to the Museum Küppersmühle in Duisburg and the New Year’s Eve in Cologne.
August 2022
Snaps from August 2022, including a visit to the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, Schnütgen Museum and Römisch-Germanisches Museum (currently located at the Belgisches Haus) in Cologne.
July 2022 (2)
The last chunk from July 2022, with a trip to the Eifel and a visit to the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum in Cologne.
April 2022
Straying around in April (Cologne, Andernach, Bad Breisig, and Aachen, including snaps of this year’s cherry blossom in Cologne).
March 2022
Straying around in March (Maria Laach and Cologne, including a visit to the Museum for East Asian Art).
January 2022
Snaps from January 2022 (straying around in Cologne, including a visit to the new city archive).
Straying around 10 (Jul, 2021)
Straying around in the area of the Deutz harbor. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 9 (Jul, 2021)
Straying around in the area around the autonomous center in Cologne. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 8 (Jun, 2021)
Straying around in Ehrenfeld this time.Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 7 (May, 2021)
At the wholesale market in Cologne again. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 6 (May, 2021)
Straying around the streets in May, part 2. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 5 (May, 2021)
Straying around the streets in May, part 1. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 4 (Apr, 2021)
Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 3 (Mar, 2021)
Spontaneous Summer: In the last week of March there was an unexpected short period of sunny summer days. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 2 (Mar, 2021)
Still straying on the streets. This time in Köln Deutz. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 1 (Mar, 2021)
The constant repetition in a never-ending Corona-lockdown for a year now…can’t stop us from straying on the streets. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Social Distancing 5 (Mar/Apr, 2020)
Here are some more impressions I captured during the Corona lockdown and the still on-going social distancing (March/April, 2020).
Social Distancing 4 (Mar/Apr, 2020)
Social distancing continued (March/April, 2020)… (including snaps of this year’s cherry blossom in Cologne)
Social Distancing 1 (Mar, 2020)
Exploring our new normal under the impression of social distancing and the lockdown of public life (March 2020).
From London to April (Jan-Apr, 2018)
Diary excerpt from January to April 2018. Contains trips to London, Berlin and several random shots.
The nights in Cologne are loud
The Weekend Stories continue and here is the next one: a loose collection of snaps I took during various party nights in the last couple of months.
Ehe für alle (Jun, 2017)
After years of discrimination, the German parliament legalized same-sex marriage this morning. Here are some impressions from the streets of Cologne that day.
#Conferences
March 2023
Snaps from March 2023, including a visit to Maria Laach and Göttingen (Göttingen Meeting of the German Neuroscience Society).
#Corona Pandemic
April 2022
Straying around in April (Cologne, Andernach, Bad Breisig, and Aachen, including snaps of this year’s cherry blossom in Cologne).
March 2022
Straying around in March (Maria Laach and Cologne, including a visit to the Museum for East Asian Art).
January 2022
Snaps from January 2022 (straying around in Cologne, including a visit to the new city archive).
January 2022
Snaps from January 2022 (straying around in Cologne, including a visit to the new city archive).
Straying around 10 (Jul, 2021)
Straying around in the area of the Deutz harbor. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 9 (Jul, 2021)
Straying around in the area around the autonomous center in Cologne. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 8 (Jun, 2021)
Straying around in Ehrenfeld this time.Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 7 (May, 2021)
At the wholesale market in Cologne again. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 6 (May, 2021)
Straying around the streets in May, part 2. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 5 (May, 2021)
Straying around the streets in May, part 1. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 4 (Apr, 2021)
Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 3 (Mar, 2021)
Spontaneous Summer: In the last week of March there was an unexpected short period of sunny summer days. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 2 (Mar, 2021)
Still straying on the streets. This time in Köln Deutz. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 1 (Mar, 2021)
The constant repetition in a never-ending Corona-lockdown for a year now…can’t stop us from straying on the streets. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Social Distancing 5 (Mar/Apr, 2020)
Here are some more impressions I captured during the Corona lockdown and the still on-going social distancing (March/April, 2020).
Social Distancing 4 (Mar/Apr, 2020)
Social distancing continued (March/April, 2020)… (including snaps of this year’s cherry blossom in Cologne)
Social Distancing 1 (Mar, 2020)
Exploring our new normal under the impression of social distancing and the lockdown of public life (March 2020).
Trip to Wuppertal (Mar, 2020)
Some snaps from a trip to Wuppertal in March. It was the last one right before the Corona lockdown in Germany.
#Demonstration
February 2024
Snaps from February 2024, including the participation in the Geisterzug during the Cologne Carnival, a Saturday walk through Cologne, and the participation in the demonstration on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Roncalliplatz, Cologne).
January 2024
Snaps from January 2024, including a visit to the Museum Ludwig, the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, the El-De Haus, and the Cologne Cathedral. In mid-January, something really rare happened: It snowed in Cologne. The city was covered in a white blanket, and I took the opportunity to take some pictures of the snow-covered city. We also participated in one of the many demonstrations that spontaneously sprung up across Germany at the end of the month against far-right movements and the far-right AfD party. There were 70,000 participants in Cologne alone.
Ehe für alle (Jun, 2017)
After years of discrimination, the German parliament legalized same-sex marriage this morning. Here are some impressions from the streets of Cologne that day.
#Dresden
#Eifel and Rhineland
March 2024
Snaps from March 2024, including the first trip to Ahrweiler after the great flood in 2021.
December 2023
Snaps from December 2023, including a visit to the Museum for East Asian Art in Cologne, the Ruhrmuseum in Essen, and the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Cologne.
October 2023
Snaps from October 2023, including a trip to the Japanese Gardenꜛ and an ikebana exhibitionꜛ in Leverkusen, a visit to the Apollinaris Church in Remagen, a rugby match of the Cologne Crushersꜛ, a trip to Linz on the Rhine, and a visit to the Cologne Fair.
August 2023
Snaps from August 2023, including shots of my new tea ceramics, a visit to the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst, and Schnütgen Museum (all in Cologne).
April 2023
Snaps from April 2023, including a visit to the fair in Cologne, and a trip to the Eifel (‘Bunte Kuh’), including snaps of this year’s cherry blossom in the Eifel region.
March 2023
Snaps from March 2023, including a visit to Maria Laach and Göttingen (Göttingen Meeting of the German Neuroscience Society).
September 2022
Snaps from September 2022, including a trip to the Eifel and Berlin (Bernstein Conference at the TU Berlin) with visits to the Altes Museum and the Bode Museum.
July 2022 (2)
The last chunk from July 2022, with a trip to the Eifel and a visit to the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum in Cologne.
April 2022
Straying around in April (Cologne, Andernach, Bad Breisig, and Aachen, including snaps of this year’s cherry blossom in Cologne).
March 2022
Straying around in March (Maria Laach and Cologne, including a visit to the Museum for East Asian Art).
January 2022
Snaps from January 2022 (straying around in Cologne, including a visit to the new city archive).
From London to April (Jan-Apr, 2018)
Diary excerpt from January to April 2018. Contains trips to London, Berlin and several random shots.
#Göttingen
March 2023
Snaps from March 2023, including a visit to Maria Laach and Göttingen (Göttingen Meeting of the German Neuroscience Society).
#History
The Richmodis legend – A Cologne tale
High above the Neumarkt in Cologne, two horse heads protrude from the side of a tower, sparking curiosity and wonder among both locals and visitors. These sculptures are not mere decorations but symbols of one of Cologne’s most intriguing legends—the tale of Richmodis. Here is a summary of some facts that I could gather about this local legend.
Jan von Werth: A Cologne love story
The rich folklore of Cologne holds another captivating tale: The legend of Jan von Werth and Griet. A story that combines romance, valor, and enduring spirit. The legend tells the tale of a simple soldier who rose to prominence through his bravery, only to find his heart captured by the love of a woman who initially spurned him. With it’s tragic-pointed end, the story could be considered as Cologne’s own Romeo and Juliet, even though being less famous than the Shakespearean tragedy.
Tünnes and Schäl: Two Cologne icons
In Cologne, few characters are as beloved and emblematic as Tünnes and Schäl. These two figures represent the quintessential ‘Kölsch’ spirit (Cologne’s local dialect and culture), combining humor, wit, and a touch of wisdom.
The Heinzelmännchen: Secret shadow workers of Cologne
Here is another snippet from the long list of Cologne legends: The Heinzelmännchen. The Heinzelmännchen are a legendary group of house gnomes or elves who, according to the legend, performed domestic chores and crafts in the city of Cologne during the night, leaving the inhabitants to wake up to a clean and orderly city.
Nubbelverbrennung – Another Cologne Carnival tradition
After exploring the Roman origins of the Cologne Carnival and the “Geisterzug”, I realized I had nearly overlooked another pivotal local tradition: The “Nubbelverbrennung”. The “Nubbel” is a straw puppet that is hung up and burned down at the corner of a street or a pub on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. It serves as a symbolic purification of the sins and mischiefs that have happened during the carnival.
Origins of Cologne's coat of arms
Did you ever wonder about the coat of arms of Cologne and why it is the way it is? I just did some research and found out that its history is quite interesting and also includes some funny twists.
Halve Hahn: A special dish in Cologne
If you’re currently out enjoying the Cologne carnival, you might encounter a local specialty that can cause some confusion: The ‘Halve Hahn’. Don’t be misled – this dish isn’t poultry.
Geisterzug: The alternative Carnival in Cologne
After exploring the Roman origins of the Cologne Carnival, we will now take a look at the alternative carnival event in Cologne called ‘Geisterzug’ (lit. ‘Ghost Parade’). It is actually a more recent addition to the Cologne Carnival tradition, starting in 1991, and can be seen as a protest against the commercialization of the today’s Cologne Carnival.
The Roman origins of the Cologne Carnival
As the clock strikes 11:11 AM tomorrow, the so-called ‘Fifth Season’ begins in Cologne. The city is overrun with revelers, and the streets are bustling with people. The citizens of Cologne celebrate with unrestrained joy and, notably, a fair amount of alcohol. But where does Carnival actually come from? What are its origins, and how has it evolved over time? This post takes you on a brief journey through the history of the Cologne Carnival to shed light on the cultural background of the festival, which tends to be forgotten in today’s thoroughly commercialized carnival.
A Zen-Buddhist interpretation of the 'Kölsches Grundgesetz'
Zen op Kölsch – I recently discovered a small booklet by Michael Wittschier, who interpreted the so-called ‘Kölsches Grundgesetz’ in a Taoist way. Taoism is a philosophical tradition of Chinese origin which emphasizes living in harmony with the Dào, a term that can be translated as ‘the way’, ‘the path’, or ‘the way of nature’. Wittschier’s interpretation is a very interesting read and I couldn’t resist to buy the booklet. However, I also thought that it would by an interesting experiment to interpret the ‘Kölsches Grundgesetz’ in a Zen-Buddhist way. So, here we go.
Stumbling upon history: The Stolpersteine project and its role in remembering Nazi victims
In European and particularly German cities, you may encounter brass plaques, known as ‘Stolpersteine’ or ‘stumbling stones’, embedded in pavements in front of buildings. Inscribed with names and dates, these plaques memorialize victims of the Nazi regime at their last known addresses, serving as a poignant reminder of the individual lives lost during this dark period in Germany and our collective history and responsibility.
NS DOK El-De Haus: Retracing the steps of Nazi history in Cologne
I recently visited the El-De Haus in Cologne, a former center of the Gestapo and now the NS Documentation Centre of Cologne, which left a profound impression on me. The house is not like other museums; it is a storyteller of a dark chapter in Cologne’s history and a stark reminder of the horrors that totalitarian regimes can inflict. What I liked most is that the documentation center focuses on the story of victims and the resistance to the Nazi regime, giving them much more space than the perpetrators. Here is a summary of the exhibition, coupled with my personal reflections.
Christian ivory carvings and their comparison with Japanese netsuke: A cross-cultural analysis
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a netsuke exhibition. The exhibition was amazing! While strolling through the exhibition, I also noticed a similarity with European Christian ivory carvings. Japanese netsuke and Christian ivory carvings both have their roots in the meticulous art of ivory carving. However, they differ considerably in purpose, symbolism and stylistic expression. Unfortunately, there was no exhibition about the latter that I could have visited at the same time or before. So I searched through my photo archives and put together some examples of European ivory carvings here.
The Ruhr Museum: A Journey through the cultural heritage of the Ruhrgebiet
During a recent visit to the Ruhr Museum in Essen, I discovered not just an outstanding modern museum, but also a gateway to the rich history of the Ruhr area, also known as the ‘Ruhrpott’. This museum visit opened my eyes to the depth and complexity of the Ruhr region’s past and present.
Netsuke – The elegance of Japanese craftsmanship
The Museum of East Asian Art in Cologne is currently hosting the exhibition ‘Kyōto’s Netsuke - Masters & Myths’ to celebrate the 60-year partnership between Cologne and Kyōto. The exhibition showcases an extraordinary selection of netsuke from the Kyōto school, each piece embodying the exceptional Japanese craftsmanship and celebrating the long-standing friendship between the two cities.
The Three Worlds
The royal illuminated manuscript ‘Traiphum’ from Bangkok, 1776, depicts the tripartite Buddhist cosmos and is a testament to King Takin’s reign after the fall of Ayutthaya. Luckily, I had the chance to see it at the Humboldt Forum in Berlin.
The Tale of Prince Vishvantara
During my recent visit to the Humboldt Forum, I came across a captivating image from a series that dates back to 1837, illustrating the life of Prince Vishvantara. This prince’s life, emblematic of unparalleled generosity, is a celebrated narrative in Buddhism, annually honored in various Southeast Asian festivals.
Exploring the Alte Nationalgalerie
Berlin’s Alte Nationalgalerie houses a vast collection of 19th century paintings and sculptures. The building itself is a work of art, and the collection is a great opportunity to discover the history of art in Germany. Here are some snapshots of my recent visit.
Exploring the Renaissance at the Bode Museum
While the Bode Museum’s medieval collection invites introspection into the raw spiritual expressions of the Gothic era, its Renaissance collection beckons with a different allure. Here are some impressions I collected during my latest visit.
The Bode Museum: A new lens on medieval art
At the heart of Berlin’s Museum Island, the Bode Museum offers a unique opportunity to engage with Christian art. The museum’s collection of medieval art, in particular, provides an intriguing opportunity to explore these artifacts outside of their traditional religious context.
The three perfections: Chinese artistic tradition
In the rich Chinese cultural history, three art forms stand out as pillars of classical education and self-expression: poetry, calligraphy, and painting. Collectively, they are known as ‘The Three Perfections’, representing the culmination of Chinese artistic tradition.
Korean ceramics: Spirituality through simplicity and purity
Korean ceramics embody a serene beauty born from simplicity, clarity, and an embrace of natural imperfections. The Humboldt Museum showcases this centuries-old tradition, offering a reflective journey into Korea’s unique interpretation of art, nature, and spirituality.
The many faces of the Buddha
The Humboldt Forum in Berlin holds an extensive collection of Buddha and Bodhisattva sculptures from all over Southeast Asia: China, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Tibet, Nepal. In this post, I’d like to show the many faces of Buddhist sculptures that I have discovered in the Forum.
The Kizil Caves
The Kizil Caves are a set of Buddhist rock-cut caves situated near Kizil, Xinjiang, China. Historically significant and renowned for their intricate murals, these caves offer a fascinating glimpse into the rich murals and sculptures of Buddhism in China and Central Asia. Artifacts recovered from the caves are displayed alongside fragments of the murals at the Humboldt Forum in Berlin.
Buddhist clay tablets from Myanmar
Another quite interesting finding I made at the Humboldt Forum were some Buddhist clay tablets from Myanmar. I was impressed by the similarities with Christian panels depicting scenes from the life of Jesus, biblical events, or saints – another example of the universality of artistic expressions across diverse cultural traditions.
Gandhara-style Buddhist sculptures
This post ties directly into my previous on The first plastic depictions of Buddha’s life: Gandhara reliefs at the Humboldt Forum, Berlin. In this post, I showcase further, quite impressive Gandhara-style Buddhist sculptures also seen at the Humboldt Museum in Berlin.
The first plastic depictions of Buddha's life: Gandhara reliefs at the Humboldt Forum, Berlin
On my visit to the Museum of Asian Art at the Humboldt Forum in Berlin, I was captivated by 15 stone reliefs depicting the Buddha’s life. Crafted in Gandhara between the 1st and 3rd century, these reliefs are among the earliest narrative representations of the Buddha. Gandhara was more than just a region; it was a melting pot of civilizations, playing an indispensable part in shaping the visual language of Buddhism.
East and West: Finding common grounds in distinct artistic traditions
I recently visited the Museum of East Asian Art and the Museum Schnütgen for European Medieval Art, both in Cologne. Having explored these museums in quick succession, I was struck by both the contrasts and surprising parallels in the artistic expressions of East and West.
#LGBT
Ehe für alle (Jun, 2017)
After years of discrimination, the German parliament legalized same-sex marriage this morning. Here are some impressions from the streets of Cologne that day.
#London
From London to April (Jan-Apr, 2018)
Diary excerpt from January to April 2018. Contains trips to London, Berlin and several random shots.
#Lost Places
January 2024
Snaps from January 2024, including a visit to the Museum Ludwig, the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, the El-De Haus, and the Cologne Cathedral. In mid-January, something really rare happened: It snowed in Cologne. The city was covered in a white blanket, and I took the opportunity to take some pictures of the snow-covered city. We also participated in one of the many demonstrations that spontaneously sprung up across Germany at the end of the month against far-right movements and the far-right AfD party. There were 70,000 participants in Cologne alone.
December 2022
Snaps from December 2022, including a visit to the Museum Küppersmühle in Duisburg and the New Year’s Eve in Cologne.
January 2022
Snaps from January 2022 (straying around in Cologne, including a visit to the new city archive).
Straying around 2 (Mar, 2021)
Still straying on the streets. This time in Köln Deutz. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
#Museum
January 2024
Snaps from January 2024, including a visit to the Museum Ludwig, the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, the El-De Haus, and the Cologne Cathedral. In mid-January, something really rare happened: It snowed in Cologne. The city was covered in a white blanket, and I took the opportunity to take some pictures of the snow-covered city. We also participated in one of the many demonstrations that spontaneously sprung up across Germany at the end of the month against far-right movements and the far-right AfD party. There were 70,000 participants in Cologne alone.
December 2023
Snaps from December 2023, including a visit to the Museum for East Asian Art in Cologne, the Ruhrmuseum in Essen, and the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Cologne.
September 2023
Snaps from September 2023, including a trip to Berlin (Bernstein Conference at the Humboldt University) with visits to the Museum for Asian Art in the Humboldt Forum, the Bode Museum, the Berlin Cathedral, the c/o Berlin, and the Alte Nationalgalerie.
August 2023
Snaps from August 2023, including shots of my new tea ceramics, a visit to the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst, and Schnütgen Museum (all in Cologne).
February 2023
Snaps from February 2023, straying around in Cologne, and trips to Wuppertal, the Eifel, the Cologne Wholesale Market, and a visit to the Schnütgen Museum in Cologne.
December 2022
Snaps from December 2022, including a visit to the Museum Küppersmühle in Duisburg and the New Year’s Eve in Cologne.
September 2022
Snaps from September 2022, including a trip to the Eifel and Berlin (Bernstein Conference at the TU Berlin) with visits to the Altes Museum and the Bode Museum.
August 2022
Snaps from August 2022, including a visit to the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, Schnütgen Museum and Römisch-Germanisches Museum (currently located at the Belgisches Haus) in Cologne.
July 2022 (2)
The last chunk from July 2022, with a trip to the Eifel and a visit to the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum in Cologne.
April 2022
Straying around in April (Cologne, Andernach, Bad Breisig, and Aachen, including snaps of this year’s cherry blossom in Cologne).
March 2022
Straying around in March (Maria Laach and Cologne, including a visit to the Museum for East Asian Art).
From London to April (Jan-Apr, 2018)
Diary excerpt from January to April 2018. Contains trips to London, Berlin and several random shots.
#New Year's Eve
December 2023
Snaps from December 2023, including a visit to the Museum for East Asian Art in Cologne, the Ruhrmuseum in Essen, and the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Cologne.
December 2022
Snaps from December 2022, including a visit to the Museum Küppersmühle in Duisburg and the New Year’s Eve in Cologne.
#Paris
#Personal Opinion
Origins of Cologne's coat of arms
Did you ever wonder about the coat of arms of Cologne and why it is the way it is? I just did some research and found out that its history is quite interesting and also includes some funny twists.
Halve Hahn: A special dish in Cologne
If you’re currently out enjoying the Cologne carnival, you might encounter a local specialty that can cause some confusion: The ‘Halve Hahn’. Don’t be misled – this dish isn’t poultry.
Geisterzug: The alternative Carnival in Cologne
After exploring the Roman origins of the Cologne Carnival, we will now take a look at the alternative carnival event in Cologne called ‘Geisterzug’ (lit. ‘Ghost Parade’). It is actually a more recent addition to the Cologne Carnival tradition, starting in 1991, and can be seen as a protest against the commercialization of the today’s Cologne Carnival.
The Roman origins of the Cologne Carnival
As the clock strikes 11:11 AM tomorrow, the so-called ‘Fifth Season’ begins in Cologne. The city is overrun with revelers, and the streets are bustling with people. The citizens of Cologne celebrate with unrestrained joy and, notably, a fair amount of alcohol. But where does Carnival actually come from? What are its origins, and how has it evolved over time? This post takes you on a brief journey through the history of the Cologne Carnival to shed light on the cultural background of the festival, which tends to be forgotten in today’s thoroughly commercialized carnival.
A Zen-Buddhist interpretation of the 'Kölsches Grundgesetz'
Zen op Kölsch – I recently discovered a small booklet by Michael Wittschier, who interpreted the so-called ‘Kölsches Grundgesetz’ in a Taoist way. Taoism is a philosophical tradition of Chinese origin which emphasizes living in harmony with the Dào, a term that can be translated as ‘the way’, ‘the path’, or ‘the way of nature’. Wittschier’s interpretation is a very interesting read and I couldn’t resist to buy the booklet. However, I also thought that it would by an interesting experiment to interpret the ‘Kölsches Grundgesetz’ in a Zen-Buddhist way. So, here we go.
Stumbling upon history: The Stolpersteine project and its role in remembering Nazi victims
In European and particularly German cities, you may encounter brass plaques, known as ‘Stolpersteine’ or ‘stumbling stones’, embedded in pavements in front of buildings. Inscribed with names and dates, these plaques memorialize victims of the Nazi regime at their last known addresses, serving as a poignant reminder of the individual lives lost during this dark period in Germany and our collective history and responsibility.
NS DOK El-De Haus: Retracing the steps of Nazi history in Cologne
I recently visited the El-De Haus in Cologne, a former center of the Gestapo and now the NS Documentation Centre of Cologne, which left a profound impression on me. The house is not like other museums; it is a storyteller of a dark chapter in Cologne’s history and a stark reminder of the horrors that totalitarian regimes can inflict. What I liked most is that the documentation center focuses on the story of victims and the resistance to the Nazi regime, giving them much more space than the perpetrators. Here is a summary of the exhibition, coupled with my personal reflections.
Christian ivory carvings and their comparison with Japanese netsuke: A cross-cultural analysis
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a netsuke exhibition. The exhibition was amazing! While strolling through the exhibition, I also noticed a similarity with European Christian ivory carvings. Japanese netsuke and Christian ivory carvings both have their roots in the meticulous art of ivory carving. However, they differ considerably in purpose, symbolism and stylistic expression. Unfortunately, there was no exhibition about the latter that I could have visited at the same time or before. So I searched through my photo archives and put together some examples of European ivory carvings here.
The Ruhr Museum: A Journey through the cultural heritage of the Ruhrgebiet
During a recent visit to the Ruhr Museum in Essen, I discovered not just an outstanding modern museum, but also a gateway to the rich history of the Ruhr area, also known as the ‘Ruhrpott’. This museum visit opened my eyes to the depth and complexity of the Ruhr region’s past and present.
Helena Parada Kim's 'Interstices' - A fusion of cultures and traditions
Helena Parada Kim’s ‘Interstices’ at the Museum of East Asian Art in Cologne masterfully blends Korean traditions with European artistry, creating a dialogue between past and present. Her unique approach to cultural fusion is exemplified in works that juxtapose traditional Korean motifs with contemporary European painting techniques, offering a fresh perspective on cultural identity and arts in general.
Netsuke – The elegance of Japanese craftsmanship
The Museum of East Asian Art in Cologne is currently hosting the exhibition ‘Kyōto’s Netsuke - Masters & Myths’ to celebrate the 60-year partnership between Cologne and Kyōto. The exhibition showcases an extraordinary selection of netsuke from the Kyōto school, each piece embodying the exceptional Japanese craftsmanship and celebrating the long-standing friendship between the two cities.
The Three Worlds
The royal illuminated manuscript ‘Traiphum’ from Bangkok, 1776, depicts the tripartite Buddhist cosmos and is a testament to King Takin’s reign after the fall of Ayutthaya. Luckily, I had the chance to see it at the Humboldt Forum in Berlin.
The Tale of Prince Vishvantara
During my recent visit to the Humboldt Forum, I came across a captivating image from a series that dates back to 1837, illustrating the life of Prince Vishvantara. This prince’s life, emblematic of unparalleled generosity, is a celebrated narrative in Buddhism, annually honored in various Southeast Asian festivals.
Exploring the Alte Nationalgalerie
Berlin’s Alte Nationalgalerie houses a vast collection of 19th century paintings and sculptures. The building itself is a work of art, and the collection is a great opportunity to discover the history of art in Germany. Here are some snapshots of my recent visit.
Exploring the Renaissance at the Bode Museum
While the Bode Museum’s medieval collection invites introspection into the raw spiritual expressions of the Gothic era, its Renaissance collection beckons with a different allure. Here are some impressions I collected during my latest visit.
The Bode Museum: A new lens on medieval art
At the heart of Berlin’s Museum Island, the Bode Museum offers a unique opportunity to engage with Christian art. The museum’s collection of medieval art, in particular, provides an intriguing opportunity to explore these artifacts outside of their traditional religious context.
The three perfections: Chinese artistic tradition
In the rich Chinese cultural history, three art forms stand out as pillars of classical education and self-expression: poetry, calligraphy, and painting. Collectively, they are known as ‘The Three Perfections’, representing the culmination of Chinese artistic tradition.
Korean ceramics: Spirituality through simplicity and purity
Korean ceramics embody a serene beauty born from simplicity, clarity, and an embrace of natural imperfections. The Humboldt Museum showcases this centuries-old tradition, offering a reflective journey into Korea’s unique interpretation of art, nature, and spirituality.
The many faces of the Buddha
The Humboldt Forum in Berlin holds an extensive collection of Buddha and Bodhisattva sculptures from all over Southeast Asia: China, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Tibet, Nepal. In this post, I’d like to show the many faces of Buddhist sculptures that I have discovered in the Forum.
The Kizil Caves
The Kizil Caves are a set of Buddhist rock-cut caves situated near Kizil, Xinjiang, China. Historically significant and renowned for their intricate murals, these caves offer a fascinating glimpse into the rich murals and sculptures of Buddhism in China and Central Asia. Artifacts recovered from the caves are displayed alongside fragments of the murals at the Humboldt Forum in Berlin.
Buddhist clay tablets from Myanmar
Another quite interesting finding I made at the Humboldt Forum were some Buddhist clay tablets from Myanmar. I was impressed by the similarities with Christian panels depicting scenes from the life of Jesus, biblical events, or saints – another example of the universality of artistic expressions across diverse cultural traditions.
Gandhara-style Buddhist sculptures
This post ties directly into my previous on The first plastic depictions of Buddha’s life: Gandhara reliefs at the Humboldt Forum, Berlin. In this post, I showcase further, quite impressive Gandhara-style Buddhist sculptures also seen at the Humboldt Museum in Berlin.
The first plastic depictions of Buddha's life: Gandhara reliefs at the Humboldt Forum, Berlin
On my visit to the Museum of Asian Art at the Humboldt Forum in Berlin, I was captivated by 15 stone reliefs depicting the Buddha’s life. Crafted in Gandhara between the 1st and 3rd century, these reliefs are among the earliest narrative representations of the Buddha. Gandhara was more than just a region; it was a melting pot of civilizations, playing an indispensable part in shaping the visual language of Buddhism.
East and West: Finding common grounds in distinct artistic traditions
I recently visited the Museum of East Asian Art and the Museum Schnütgen for European Medieval Art, both in Cologne. Having explored these museums in quick succession, I was struck by both the contrasts and surprising parallels in the artistic expressions of East and West.
Embracing imperfections: Kintsugi and the story of my teapot
Kintsugi, the traditional Japanese art of ‘golden joinery’, celebrates the beauty of brokenness. My experience with a cherished teapot taught me not just about repair, but about embracing imperfections and celebrating the breakage and repair as an integral part of an object’s history.
#Photography
#Romania
#Ruhrgebiet
December 2022
Snaps from December 2022, including a visit to the Museum Küppersmühle in Duisburg and the New Year’s Eve in Cologne.
#Straying around
March 2024
Snaps from March 2024, including the first trip to Ahrweiler after the great flood in 2021.
February 2024
Snaps from February 2024, including the participation in the Geisterzug during the Cologne Carnival, a Saturday walk through Cologne, and the participation in the demonstration on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Roncalliplatz, Cologne).
January 2024
Snaps from January 2024, including a visit to the Museum Ludwig, the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, the El-De Haus, and the Cologne Cathedral. In mid-January, something really rare happened: It snowed in Cologne. The city was covered in a white blanket, and I took the opportunity to take some pictures of the snow-covered city. We also participated in one of the many demonstrations that spontaneously sprung up across Germany at the end of the month against far-right movements and the far-right AfD party. There were 70,000 participants in Cologne alone.
December 2023
Snaps from December 2023, including a visit to the Museum for East Asian Art in Cologne, the Ruhrmuseum in Essen, and the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Cologne.
October 2023
Snaps from October 2023, including a trip to the Japanese Gardenꜛ and an ikebana exhibitionꜛ in Leverkusen, a visit to the Apollinaris Church in Remagen, a rugby match of the Cologne Crushersꜛ, a trip to Linz on the Rhine, and a visit to the Cologne Fair.
September 2023
Snaps from September 2023, including a trip to Berlin (Bernstein Conference at the Humboldt University) with visits to the Museum for Asian Art in the Humboldt Forum, the Bode Museum, the Berlin Cathedral, the c/o Berlin, and the Alte Nationalgalerie.
August 2023
Snaps from August 2023, including shots of my new tea ceramics, a visit to the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst, and Schnütgen Museum (all in Cologne).
February 2023
Snaps from February 2023, straying around in Cologne, and trips to Wuppertal, the Eifel, the Cologne Wholesale Market, and a visit to the Schnütgen Museum in Cologne.
December 2022
Snaps from December 2022, including a visit to the Museum Küppersmühle in Duisburg and the New Year’s Eve in Cologne.
July 2022 (2)
The last chunk from July 2022, with a trip to the Eifel and a visit to the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum in Cologne.
April 2022
Straying around in April (Cologne, Andernach, Bad Breisig, and Aachen, including snaps of this year’s cherry blossom in Cologne).
March 2022
Straying around in March (Maria Laach and Cologne, including a visit to the Museum for East Asian Art).
January 2022
Snaps from January 2022 (straying around in Cologne, including a visit to the new city archive).
Straying around 10 (Jul, 2021)
Straying around in the area of the Deutz harbor. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 9 (Jul, 2021)
Straying around in the area around the autonomous center in Cologne. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 8 (Jun, 2021)
Straying around in Ehrenfeld this time.Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 7 (May, 2021)
At the wholesale market in Cologne again. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 6 (May, 2021)
Straying around the streets in May, part 2. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 5 (May, 2021)
Straying around the streets in May, part 1. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 4 (Apr, 2021)
Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 3 (Mar, 2021)
Spontaneous Summer: In the last week of March there was an unexpected short period of sunny summer days. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 2 (Mar, 2021)
Still straying on the streets. This time in Köln Deutz. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
Straying around 1 (Mar, 2021)
The constant repetition in a never-ending Corona-lockdown for a year now…can’t stop us from straying on the streets. Straying around is a loose series of walks through Cologne (mostly) during the Corona pandemic.
#Tea
Korean ceramics: Spirituality through simplicity and purity
Korean ceramics embody a serene beauty born from simplicity, clarity, and an embrace of natural imperfections. The Humboldt Museum showcases this centuries-old tradition, offering a reflective journey into Korea’s unique interpretation of art, nature, and spirituality.
Embracing imperfections: Kintsugi and the story of my teapot
Kintsugi, the traditional Japanese art of ‘golden joinery’, celebrates the beauty of brokenness. My experience with a cherished teapot taught me not just about repair, but about embracing imperfections and celebrating the breakage and repair as an integral part of an object’s history.
August 2023
Snaps from August 2023, including shots of my new tea ceramics, a visit to the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst, and Schnütgen Museum (all in Cologne).
#Wuppertal
February 2023
Snaps from February 2023, straying around in Cologne, and trips to Wuppertal, the Eifel, the Cologne Wholesale Market, and a visit to the Schnütgen Museum in Cologne.
Trip to Wuppertal (Mar, 2020)
Some snaps from a trip to Wuppertal in March. It was the last one right before the Corona lockdown in Germany.
#Social Distancing
Social Distancing 10 (May, 2020)
Social Distancing 9 (May, 2020)
Social Distancing 8 (Apr, 2020)
Cologne wholesale market (Jun, 2020)
Social Distancing 7 (Apr, 2020)
Flora (May, 2020)
Social Distancing 6 (Apr, 2020)
Social Distancing 5 (Mar/Apr, 2020)
Social Distancing 4 (Mar/Apr, 2020)
Social Distancing 3 (Mar/Apr, 2020)
Social Distancing 2 (Mar, 2020)
Social Distancing 1 (Mar, 2020)