If you are interested in art and furniture and are in Berlin, don’t miss the Hoffmann Collection (Sammlung Hoffmann). It is not a museum but a private and very impressive collection of contemporary art from around the world. The collection is owned by Erika Hoffmann and on Saturdays she opens her spetacular 1.800 m2 apartment in a courtyard in Mitte for visitors. In the apartment - which once was a sewing-machine factory and a manufacturer of medical equipment – Erika Hoffmann presents works in various media, including painting, video, photography and sculpture.
Erica Hoffman and her husband Rolf Hoffmann began collecting art in 1968. They moved to the old factory in East Berlin in 1995 and two years later they opened their private home to the public. Erika Hoffmann has continued to collect art and continued the open-door-policy after the death of her husband a few years ago.
Upon arrival all visitors have to put on oversized felt slippers that are provided in the reception before they are allowed into the apartment. To ensure that all guests enjoy an intimate experience, the capacity on the guided tour is limited to ten people. The guide acts more like a moderator and encourages discussions among the visitors. He or she demands something from the visitor and might even confront you and ask: “How does this piece of art communicate to you?” So you'd better be well-prepared and in good form when you visit the Hoffmann Collection if you don’t want to make a fool of your self in front a group of dedicated and educated art lovers.
There is a raw industrial feel to Erica Hoffmann’s apartment. The rooms are huge with high ceilings and concrete walls and staircases. The floors are wooden and the range of furniture is extremely limited but the selection is delicate. Though the apartment has many similarities with a gallery there are small signs that indicate that someone is living here. There is a piano in one room, a messy desk in Erika Hoffmann's office and a pile of newspapers in the giant diningroom (Erika Hoffmann reads Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and not tabloids).
In July each year Erika Hoffmann changes the selection of work and rearranges the furnishings. To go on a guided tour in the Hoffmann Collection you have to book in advance. The entrance fee is 6 € and the tour lasts about 2 hours.
Sammlung Hoffmann, Sophie-Gips-Höfe, Aufgang C, Sophienstrasse 21, Berlin-Mitte.
www.sophie-gips.de
Author David Rich Momondo
