Catching Letters
Some places are unfortunately discovered too late, and that was the case with the Letter Museum. For twenty years, the owners have collected, restored, and exhibited their collection of neon signs and lettering in just six rooms of the S-Bahn arches at Bellevue. They celebrated the twentieth anniversary in the summer, but just a few months later, in October, the museum has to close. Thanks to Erik on Instagram, I learned about the existence of the museum and its impending closure almost at the last moment. So I didn't hesitate and took advantage of the last opening day to see the collection in its most creative form and composition.
Already upon arrival, it was clear that the sad news had attracted quite a few interested visitors. Many had come to take advantage of the last opportunity. It became clear to me that I faced a small challenge: How do I photograph a small room filled with people and letters?
At the entrance, there is a long queue that extends onto the street. More and more people keep joining. Nevertheless, the line moves quickly, and the first illuminated sign we see from outside is a surprise: the Coca-(Cola) sign in Cyrillic.
Words, Names, People
When you go to a museum, it's not because of the other visitors. But the exhibits are created by people in most cases, and are there to be seen by people. So the visitors are also part of the exhibition. This also makes it easier for me, as a photographer, to find my subjects. People interact with the letters, photograph them, look at them, and thus give them meaning. The last exhibition is titled "Final Sale - from department store to museum" and shows many lettering from shops that no longer exist. From department stores, shops, supermarkets that were once filled with people.
Schlecker was a well-known drugstore chain that had to file for bankruptcy in 2012. Around the corner from me there is still a building that used to be a Schlecker. It has been empty for years, but the lettering is still there. When I'm done here, I'll stop by there for a photo.
Kaufhof no longer exists as such, only Galeria remains. People are shopping online more and more.
Beate Uhse was a pilot and the founder of the first sex shop worldwide, what a combination of talents. This reminds me that there was an erotic museum named after her in Berlin. Decades have passed since I was last there. The museum had to close in 2014 because the building was demolished. It's sad that it hasn't found a new home, because there were many interesting exhibits to see there, as well as an insight into the history of Beate Uhse herself.
Multiple times there were lettering with the words Berlin and Berliner. I found three.
The basic idea of the museum is to remove the letters from their original context and present them as art objects. This works sometimes better, sometimes less well. Some lettering is so well-known that it always remains connected to the original business. Others, on the other hand, are so abstract that they hardly have any meaning anymore.
It was very cramped in the room, and crowded. I couldn't step back far enough to get the lettering in one picture. I decide on a small series that works best in a loop.
The last room is the workshop, where the restoration takes place. Here the letters are brought back to life.
After just under an hour we're through, it's time to complete the alphabet challenge, and we check if all letters have been found. Most have been found, but a few are still missing. Which ones they are, I won't reveal, you'll figure that out yourself.
Just before we leave the museum, my wife points out the colorful window next to the entrance, which is just being illuminated by the rays of the sun.
Outside under the huge lettering of the museum, a homeless person has set up a tent. This also threatens the letter collection if no new space is found soon.
If you would like to help the museum to survive the hard times, you can find more information here, on museum's website.
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