From February 12 to 15, 2010, a unique art installation entitled “The Curtain” told of the magic and power of cinema: renowned artist and international Korean-American designer Christina Kim ('dosa') created a 300–square-metre symbolic movie-theatre curtain from recycled film and Berlinale billboards. After the opening ceremony on February 12, the world premiere of the restored original version of Fritz Lang's Metropolis was transmitted live to the public from the Friedrichstadt-Palast to a screen at the Brandenburg Gate. The public was invited to enjoy this significant moment in the history of film - free of charge - at this very special setting. About 2.000 spectators were part of it.
Project Statement
For more than a decade, the Korean-American artist and designer Christina Kim has recycled leftover fabric and off cuts from her own clothing and house wares lines to create new textiles and products.
In the course of the public screening of Metropolis, Kim was asked to create a curtain of approx. 300 sqm at the Brandenburg Gate onto which the world premiere of the restored version of Metropolis was projected. The project was an ideal opportunity to elaborate on Kim’s ideas about recycling and collaboration in a larger, public setting. The installation project was assembled from used plastic-mesh bill-boards, thus alluding to the history and materiality of film. However, it is Kim's primary objective to have made a theatrical curtain worthy of the location, the event and the celebration. Another important aspect for Kim is that the curtain should have a life after the festival; at present, various possibilities are being discussed.
Supported by the Berlin Capital Cultural Fund, the installation was opened on February 12 in the attendance of the artist Christina Kim. For the occasion, the Berlinale presented a live transmission of the world premiere of Metropolis.
