Experience the dazzling West Berlin: exhibition on Anno Wilms!

Experience the dazzling West Berlin: exhibition on Anno Wilms!

On Friday, July 11, 2025, the Kommunale Galerie in Berlin will celebrate a special event: the opening of the exhibition “Berlin, you shrill bird”. From 6 p.m., art lovers and the curious can immerse themselves in the fascinating world of photographer Anno Wilms, who documented the intoxicating nightlife of West Berlin in the 1970s. This exhibition is open to all visitors free of charge until September 14, 2025 and registration is not required. The gallery is located at Hohenzollerndamm 176, 10713 Berlin, and is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Wednesdays until 7 p.m.

This exciting show will feature images that show the meeting places of the queer scene in West Berlin, including the legendary travesty and drag bar “Lützower Lampe” and the nightclub “Chez Romy Haag”. These locations were not only nightlife hotspots, but also attracted international celebrities such as David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Grace Jones and Freddie Mercury. “Berlin, you shrill bird” reflects the colorful, free and culturally diverse life of that time. A picture is presented here of an era that was characterized by freedom and creativity, as [kommunale-galerie-berlin.de](https://www.kommunalegalerie-berlin.de/ exhibitionen/vorschau/berlin-du-schriller-vogel) emphasizes.

The artist and her legacy

Anno Wilms, who lived from 1935 to 2016, was a pioneering photographer whose extensive estate includes around 40,000 prints and over 6,000 negative films. Shortly before her death, she transferred her estate to a foundation that today preserves and promotes her works. Wilms was known for her black and white snapshots and milieu studies, which she made both in Berlin and internationally. Her photographs are characterized by extraordinary perspectives and strong contrasts. They were particularly interested in ethnic minorities and marginalized groups, which is reflected in their work, as kunstdunst.com reports.

Wilms' passion for theater and collaboration with artists from the Berlin travesty scene made her work a fascinating testimony to a time of social change and artistic awakening. Her portraits explore identity on the border between expectation and reality and show the multifaceted lives of people who often live in the shadows of society.

The upcoming exhibition will not only celebrate Wilms’ artistic talent, but also illuminate the historical context in which her photographs were created. It invites everyone to relive the vibrant atmosphere of the 1970s in West Berlin and to be inspired by the creative energy that was in the air back then. Those interested can find further information on the [Kommunale Galerie] website (https://www.kommunalegalerie-berlin.de/ exhibitionen/vorschau/berlin-du-schriller-vogel).