The collection is housed in a former telecommunications bunker.
Photo: Gilbert McCarragher via John Pawson

The Feuerle Collection, a private museum showcasing Désiré Feuerle’s collection of international contemporary and Southeast Asian art and imperial Chinese design will open in the German capital in April, 2016.

Housed in a World War II-era telecommunications bunker, which has been refurbished by the renowned British architect John Pawson, the museum aims to provoke a dialogue between works of different cultures and eras.

The space was renovated by the British architect John Pawson.
Photo: Gilbert McCarragher via The Feuerle Collection

The collection juxtaposes 7th-13th century Kmer sculptures in stone, bronze, and wood as well as imperial Chinese furniture spanning from the Han to the Qing dynasty (200 BC—18th century) with contemporary works by the likes of Cristina Iglesias, Anish Kapoor, Zeng Fanzhi, and James Lee Byars.

As a collector and former dealer, Feuerle championed the cross-cultural and multi-era comparison between contemporary Western and ancient Asian art in exhibitions such as “Eduardo Chillida and the Chinese neck rests of Ming and Song dynasties”, and “Anish Kapoor and Ban Chiang terracottas from 1500—3600 BC,” which he organized at his Cologne-based Galerie Feuerle between 1990 and 1998.

Désiré Feuerle
Photo: Mark G. Peters via The Feuerle Collection

“When it comes to his collection, Désiré has a ‘Chinese eye,’ that always allows him to choose the best works,” the Chinese artist Zeng has said of Feuerle’s collection.

The museum opens to the public for a preview week from April 29 to May 7. Afterwards, one of the rooms within the collection’s space will act as one of the primary venues for the 9th Berlin Biennale which takes place between June 4 and September 18.

The space will host the 9th Berlin Biennale in June.
Photo: Gilbert McCarragher via The Feuerle Collection

Over the course of the Berlin Biennale, the ground floor will be dedicated to the biennale exhibition while the collection’s permanent exhibition will remain on view in the basement floor.

Following the end of the ninth Berlin Biennale, the official grand opening of the Feuerle Collection will be celebrated in October, after which both floors of the space will be permanently dedicated to the collection.