MK&G (MUSEUM OF DECORATIVE ARTS)

With approximately 500,000 objects spanning more than 4,000 years of human history, the Museum of Decorative Arts is one of the most influential art museums in Europe. Opened in 1877 in a neo-Renaissance palace, it is a testament to the incredible creativity of human beings. The collection ranges from the most ancient arts to our contemporaries, be it in Europe, in the Muslim world or in the Far East. On more than 10 000^m2, the MK&G unveils an extraordinary collection: graphic art, poster art, photography, new media, design, fashion, musical instruments and ceramics. All this through different periods: Antiquity, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, Classicism, Art Nouveau... It is a very vast museum where one could easily spend an afternoon. It takes at least two hours to get a good overview of the collections.

Here is a small summary of the elements not to be missed. First of all, the section onAntiquity and the Renaissance has a modern and educational scenography. The objects are beautifully displayed in circles of light and on colored backgrounds. The museum has a very nice collection of antique vases and Egyptian objects that are worth a small detour. In the Renaissance section, don't miss the very faithful and instructive reproduction of a cabinet of curiosities or the gallery of statues. In the section on Classicism and Baroque, you should see the Louis XVI style room reproduced by a rich Hamburg merchant. On the second floor, in the Art Nouveau section, take a tour of the 1900's Primitivism andExpressionism room where you can see a magnificent expressionist dance mask and unique dance outfits. Don't miss the orange canteen at the Spiegel newspaper's headquarters made in 1969 by Danish designer Verner Panton, a true icon of pop art and psychedelic design in the 1960s.

The Museum of Decorative Arts in Hamburg has succeeded in connecting art and time, past and present, and presenting them in an educational, immersive and highly visual way. The numerous reconstructions allow us to understand the style of an era, a type of design... We can also mention the excellent temporary exhibitions dedicated to tattooing, plastic waste, fashion icons such as Coco Chanel or Alexander McQueen, or even May 68...