Strange Sight
July 13, 2008
The private collection traces the history of surrealist imagery from the 18th to the 20th century, and has been lent to the city for an initial period of ten years.
The Scharf-Gerstenberg collection is housed in the former Egyptian musuem in the capital's western Charlottenburg district, which has been revamped at a cost of 10 million euros ($15.6 million).
Berlin museums director Peter-Klaus Schuster described "Surreal Worlds" as an ideal complement to the Berggruen museum across the road. It focuses on the work of Pablo Picasso and Paul Klee.
Otto Gerstenberg was a pioneering figure in the insurance sector, who bought a wide range of artworks in the early 20th century. His collection was expanded by his late grandson Dieter Scharf.
The collection's curator Julietta Scharf said the project represented a realization of her father Dieter's wish to see the works publicly displayed.
The museum also has a cinema where Surrealist classics by the likes of Luis Buneul will be screened.