What’s it about Paris Bar at Strausberger Platz?
Just like the KaDeWe or the Ku’damm, Paris Bar represents the story of Berlin’s timeless West. Everything here revolves around itself. And it feels like it has been doing so for 100 years. In contrast to its “great” epoch during the GDR, the Strausberger Platz now stands for a faded utopia and the empty megalomania of the first and last communist state on German soil.
Only slowly city life is managing to set foot on the expansive pavements. On cold days, expect a frosty wind.
From the get-go, our showroom in the “Haus des Kindes” was envisioned as an alien object in these cold surroundings: minimalist concept art in the midst of socialist realism.
Christopher Williams, whom we opened the room with, purposely juxtaposed socialist and capitalist realism. Just below the window, with a clear view to the east (Frankfurter Tor to Moscow), he installed a comfortable living room with posters and editions. In front of our flimsy Franz West-couch, a TV played the Cooking show. A Swiss “Kochsendung”, that Christopher showed in real time. As an example, a pan of soup was in focus for as long as it took for the broth to heat up. The whole thing took 332 minutes and 17 seconds. And as we have come to expect of him, the complete show was hung precisely to a point. What a contrast to the pompous and hollow architecture outside.
And what a contradiction to Paris Bar with its unique air. Art, in every possible and impossible spot; where the last 50 or 60 years of moving history exudes from every crack. A history that has lived through constant ups and downs but that has, through its illustrious guests, stayed riveting to this day: a good mix of intellectuals, artists, beautiful people, and culture tourists. In addition, a few politicians here and there and Rolf Eden. Nearly anybody who thinks anything of themselves drops by regularly or at least, when in town, is seen at Michel’s.
How many times I’ve tried to identify the pictures and objects on the walls and ceilings preserved by cigarette smoke and cooking oil. But of course I never asked Michel what was from whom. That would have felt too much like accounting, although it really would have interested me.
Michel’s experiences with his artist friends or his stories about his third home on Syros were of course even more engrossing.
Michel is an Austrian dandy and a situationist, the exact opposite of me. He knows everybody and has done everything. Michel is Paris Bar – not the other way around. Some evidence: his home looks exactly like Paris Bar, in fact, it looks even better. Because stacks of drawings, photos, posters, and collages tower in every corner of the Paul-Lincke-Ufer (where else could Michel live?). Devotions from 50 years of the art world sit coated in dust in between whole batteries of frame-sewed shoes and tidily ironed and hung pink shirts. That is something that must be experienced I think.
One question especially has always occupied me: How would the works from the Paris Bar look in a “normal” exhibition, set apart from the gastronomic context? And how does Paris Bar look without the Petersburg drapes, how do the naked walls look? Could you show the dry concept art that I love so much there too? The idea of a switch-over was born. The fact that it turned into a charade lies in the nature of its actors.
Michel was on fire after a few short doubts concerning the feasibility. Of course, he immediately developed a concrete idea on what could be shown at the Strausberger Platz: in addition to everything important from Paris Bar and his apartment, 100 further drawings of his, mostly freshly created, were added as well as a joint piece with Christopher Steinmeyer. And our 17 Meter bench was to be plastered with pictures of our glorious times together – how wonderful!

Axel Haubrok

List of works Strausberger Platz

Raimund Abraham
Casa di Raimund, 2010

Raimund Abraham
Modell für ein Haus auf Syros, 1980

Raimund Abraham
Österreichisches Kulturinstitut, NY, year unknown

Carsten Anders
Portrait Michel Würthle, 2011

Antonio de Andrés-Gayón
untitled, 2011

Olivia Asafu
untitled, 1976

Ina Barfuss
untitled, 1986

Ina Barfuss
untitled, 1980

Ina Barfuss
Donald Duck and the queen, 1977

Georg Baselitz
untitled (mit Widmung für Michel), 1993

Peter Beard
Nor dread nor hope attend, 1972

Peter Beard
Cousin Jerome (Hill) B.B.@la batterie, 1958

Joseph Beuys
Botanischer Wahnsinn, 1976

Jack Bilbo
Der Charmanten Witwe der Paris Bar, 1960

Manuel Bonik
Brennende Kulisse, 2003

Manuel Bonik
Das Exil, 2000

Cosima von Bonin
Dandy dog, 2006

Cecily Brown
untitled, 2006

Günter Brus
Edvin Rachmaul, 1975

Günter Brus
Das Jahr der Schwalbe, 1975

Günter Brus
Schach, year unknown

Bernard Buffet
untitled, 1958

Werner Büttner
Und immer rascheln die Bakterien, 1992

Maurizio Cattelan
untitled, 2000

Peter Chevalier
Portrait Michel, 1991

Nicola Cipani
Sparo, 2001

Larry Clark
untitled, year unknown

Pia Dehne
Derain et moi, 2001

Christa Dichgans
Lüpertz als Pirat, 1999

Peter Doig
Capote, 2006

Jirí Georg Dokoupil & Martin Kippenberger
Schlüsselloch, 1986

Ingrid Egert
Gambling Navajos, 1980

Marcel Eichner
untitled, 2011

VALIE EXPORT
Plakat, 1960s

Hubert Fichte
Selbstportrait, 1970s

Dieter Fincke
Krokodil in Memoriam, 1991

Josef Fischnaller
Papst (M. Würthle), 2010

Samuel Fosso
Le pirate (Self portrait), 1997

Ingeborg Gabriel
untitled, 1990

Isa Genzken
untitled, 2004

Matthias Griebler
Kubin et la comédie de la mort, 2000

George Grosz
untitled (zum Sammelwerk “Ecce homo”), 1921

F. C. Gundlach
Portrait Romy Schneider, 1961

Al Hansen
Mickey Mouse, 1984

Valeria Heisenberg
untitled, 1991

Anatol Herzfeld
Martin Kippenberger und Albert Oehlen, 1991

Damien Hirst
I.O.U., 1999

Damien Hirst
Michel, I love you, 1994

Damien Hirst
untitled (Bill), 1994

Damien Hirst
untitled (Bill), 1994

Damien Hirst
Self-portrait, year unknown

Damien Hirst & Michel Würthle
Beau Brummell flees London – his last night at Watiers, 1998

Karl-Horst Hödicke
untitled, 1973

Anne Hoenig
Portrait André Malraux, 2006

Thomas Hornemann
Nach Delacroix, 2000

Axel Hütte
Portrait Meuser, 1986

Vassilis Kalantzis
Introducing the resistance to artistic enslavement, 2007

Vassilis Kalantzis
untitled, 2006

Benjamin Katz
Martin Kippenberger, 1991

Otto Kelmer
Trailer for the new version of “Die geheime Sammlung des Salvador Dalí”, 2012

Hubert Kiecol
2 Stelen für Syros, 1995

Martin Kippenberger
Selbstportrait (Das Floß der Medusa), 1996

Martin Kippenberger
Leberzirrhose, unvollendet, 1995

Martin Kippenberger
Was ist hier los mit daily filling, 1995

Martin Kippenberger
Momas Syros, 1993

Martin Kippenberger
untitled, 1991

Martin Kippenberger
untitled, 1989

Martin Kippenberger
Tramperschild Paris, year unknown

Jürgen Klauke
Die Psychologin, 1979

Robert Klemmer
Selbstportrait, 1964

Bernd Koberling
Lila, 1994

Kurt Kocherscheidt
untitled, year unknown

Michael Krebber
Elle, 1993

Maria Lassnig
untitled, 1979

Cheik Ledy
Mokolo ekoyela yo, y’oyeba!!, 1987

Robert Lucander
untitled, 2009

Sarah Lucas
Doll, 1999

Sarah Lucas
Self-portrait, 1990–1998

Christian Ludwig Attersee
Spatzenpflock, 1986

Ken Lum
Pete Norris could use a drink, 1983

Markus Lüpertz
untitled, 1980

Nikolai Makarov
Portrait M. Würthle, 2009

Piero Manzoni
Portrait Curzio Malaparte, 1939

Jonathan Meese
Kapitän Michelewü, 2007

Otto Muehl
Uniferkel 2, 1969

Vuza N’Toko
Les voies immorales du monde, 1991

Albert Oehlen
Sie hat nur einen, 1996

Albert Oehlen
Wann ist Schluss?, 1989

Haralampi G. Oroschakoff
Portrait Alfred Kubin, 2012

Haralampi G. Oroschakoff
Benjamin Katz und Michel Würthle – Les 2 magots artisti per nascita ámbidui, 2010

Haralampi G. Oroschakoff
Doppelkreuz, 2000

Haralampi G. Oroschakoff
Black war 1, 1999

Haralampi G. Oroschakoff
Black war 2, 1999

Haralampi G. Oroschakoff
Black war 3, 1999

Haralampi G. Oroschakoff
Black war 4, 1999

Haralampi G. Oroschakoff & Michel Würthle
Down and out in Charlottenburg, 2007

Robin Page
Paris Bar massacre, 1980

Maria Papadimitriou
Manga, 2000

Jorge Pardo
Lamp 030100, 2000

Raymond Pettibon
O.d. a hippie, legalize heroin, ban hippies (and New Yorkers), 1982

Walter Pichler
Brunnenskulptur, 1994

Walter Pichler
Kombinierte Waffe, 1970

Walter Pichler & Michel Würthle
Zwei schwarze Mäntel aus Tweed, 2009/2010

Nina Pohl
Con affectione, 1995

Sigmar Polke
untitled, 1988

Sigmar Polke
Zeughaus, 1976

Cornelius Quabeck
Jeff, 2005

Arnulf Rainer
Selten gehörte Musik, 1993

Arnulf Rainer & Dieter Roth
Milch her!, 1984

Arnulf Rainer & Dieter Roth
Menschen von oben, 1974

Man Ray
De Sade, 1938

Daniel Richter
Paris Bar, 2. Version, 2011

Daniel Richter & Michel Würthle
Windstärke 8 auf Delos, 2007

Karin Rocholl
Portrait Martin Wuttke, year unknown

Björn Roth & Dieter Roth
Detail of exile, 1980

Dieter Roth
Hommage an Michel Würthle, 1976

Dieter Roth
Arschlöcher, 1975

Gerhard Rühm
untitled, 1970

Gerhard Rühm
untitled, 1970

Adam Saks
Stranded, 2008

Chéri Samba
Le moustique chante, 1994

Chéri Samba & Michel Würthle
Le pinceau, 1991

Jörg Schlick
Deutschland, keiner hilft keinem, 1992

Jörg Schlick
untitled, 1991

Wilhelm Schürmann
Long dong silver, 1983

Norbert Schwontkowski
Art akademie, 2007

Norbert Schwontkowski
Capital tower, 1999

Elfie Semotan
Side by side (Martin Kippenberger und Michel Würthle, Kthma Canné, Syros), 1995

Elfie Semotan
Momas Syros, Eröffnung mit Martin Kippenberger und Hubert Kiecol, 1992

Elfie Semotan
Tür der Winde, 1992

Dirk Skreber
My private pesci, 1999

Dash Snow
untitled, 2003

Dash Snow
untitled, 2002

Andrea Stappert
L.G. Wilkinson, 2007

Andrea Stappert
Markus Lüpertz, 2006

Andrea Stappert
Raymond Pettibon und Daniel Richter vor der Paris Bar, 2005

Andrea Stappert
Guernica (Seville), 1988

Andrea Stappert
Martin Kippenberger, Sevilla, 1988

Christopher Steinmeyer
Entwurf für Ölgemälde “Regan”, 2011

Christopher Steinmeyer
untitled (Metrostation auf Syros), 2011

Christopher Steinmeyer
Martin Kippenberger, Knokke, 1995

Christopher Steinmeyer & Michel Würthle
Progrès, 2012

Anne Stephan
Al Hansen mit Sphinx, 1984

Ulrich Strothjohann
Löcher dieser Welt, 1984

Tal R
The bird, 2008

Jürgen Teller
Portrait Yves Saint Laurent, 2000

André Thomkins
Portrait Spoerri und Selbstportrait, 1970

Claude Tolmer
Treppe in Paris, 1993

Elfie Tripamer
Carolina und Caterina Würthle, Anna Pichler, 1993

Elfie Tripamer
Caterina Würthle, Walter Pichler und Peter Fitz, 1993

Elfie Tripamer
Walter Pichler und Michel Würthle, 1992

Hans Weigand
Silver surfer, 2012

Hans Weigand
Garten der Lüste, 2007

Hans Weigand & Michel Würthle
Begräbniszeremonie W. P., 2012

Caroline Weihrauch
Guy Debord, 2011

Franz West
Kraavik Waande, 1997

Adam Wiener
Häutchenbild, 1996

Ingrid Wiener
Dr. Müllers Kabelfrühling, 2012

Ingrid Wiener
Traumzeichnungen, 2000–2005

Oswald Wiener
Syros, 1990

Oswald Wiener
untitled (Gemeinschaftsarbeit mit Rühm, Brus, Attersee, Steiger), 1975

Christopher Williams
Kiev MC Arsat PCS 4.5/55 mm shift lens
Focal length: 55 mm
Aperture scale: 4.5–22
Focusing scale: 0.3 m (0.98 ft) to infinity
Minimum focusing distance: 1.2 ft (0.5 m)
Field of view: 69 degrees (with shift), 84 degrees (without shift)
Number of elements: Nine elements in seven groups
Filter size: 72 mm
Weight: 2 lbs
Serial number: 0051
Photography by the Douglas M. Parker Studio, Glendale, California
January 27, 2007, 2007

Emmett Williams
Selbstportrait II, 1983

Johannes Wohnseifer
No more micropenis, 2007

Christopher Wool
untitled (Dog), year unknown

Carolina Würthle
untitled (Fee), 1996

Caterina Würthle
Dalí mit Ziege, 2001

Caterina Würthle
Dubliners, 1997

Caterina Würthle
My husband and I (mit Bruno Brunnet in der Paris Bar), 1996

Friedrich Würthle
Ansichten der Stadt Salzburg, 1886

Michel Würthle
Alcibiades, 2012

Michel Würthle
Café Greco, Syros, 2012

Michel Würthle
Café Hawelka, Wien (1960) – meine erste Begegnung mit W. Pichler, 2012

Michel Würthle
Charade/Rochade, 2012

Michel Würthle
Der österreichische Patient, 2012

Michel Würthle
Eskimo Institut Kopenhagen, 2012

Michel Würthle
Genealogie M. W., 2012

Michel Würthle
Hans Kurz aka M. K. als Modeschöpfer in Kinshasa, 2012

Michel Würthle
Konrad Bayer als Spuck-Zenmeister, 2012

Michel Würthle
Konrad Bayer: Pudeltanz, 2012

Michel Würthle
Les plongeurs du Paris Bar, 2012

Michel Würthle
Martin au Congo, 2012

Michel Würthle
Michel als Ernst Jünger, 2012

Michel Würthle
M. K.: Museumsdirektor, 2012

Michel Würthle
M. K.: Museumsdirektor, 2012

Michel Würthle
Personenskizze zu “Le progrès”, 2012

Michel Würthle
Plakat für die Ausstellung bei Nyehaus, N.Y. – überarbeitet für Charade, 2012

Michel Würthle
Portrait M. K., 2012

Michel Würthle
Progrès, 2012

Michel Würthle
Rêve de Eze, 2012

Michel Würthle
Sapeurs autrichiens, 2012

Michel Würthle
Sucre, 2012

Michel Würthle
Wasserball Spandau, 2012

Michel Würthle
W. P. als Greis von 120 Jahren (Pichler-Block), 2012

Michel Würthle
W. P. wie ich ihn sah (Pichler-Block), 2012

Michel Würthle
Accatone Würthle, 2011

Michel Würthle
Arkadien…, 2011

Michel Würthle
Carnevale in Galera, 2011

Michel Würthle
Et dieu… créa Gunter Sachs, 2011

Michel Würthle
Heavy Burschi Guy Debord, 2011

Michel Würthle
La désinvolture de Sachs, 2011

Michel Würthle
Laudatio, 2011

Michel Würthle
Le boudin de G. Sachs, 2011

Michel Würthle
Paris Bar (rosa-rot), 2011

Michel Würthle
Portatori di documenti falsi, 2011

Michel Würthle
Portrait Andrea Stappert, 2011

Michel Würthle
Rausch in der Paris Bar, 2011

Michel Würthle
Rittmeister, 2011

Michel Würthle
Telegramm an M. K., 2011

Michel Würthle
The men with the golden foot, 2011

Michel Würthle
Weinkritiker in der Paris Bar, 2011

Michel Würthle
Aux grands sapeurs, 2010

Michel Würthle
Ein Sonntag im Sommer, 2010

Michel Würthle
Fair vanity, 2010

Michel Würthle
It muli, 2010

Michel Würthle
Knirschender Kies, 2010

Michel Würthle
Paris Bar mit Jesus, 2010

Michel Würthle
Port of Hydra, 2010

Michel Würthle
Portrait Elfie Semotan, 2010

Michel Würthle
Portrait Ingrid und Oswald Wiener, 2010

Michel Würthle
Portrait Julian Schnabel, 2010

Michel Würthle
Portrait M. Cattelan, 2010

Michel Würthle
Portrait Oswald und Ingrid Wiener, 2010

Michel Würthle
Sichtbar gemachtes comité invisible, 2010

Michel Würthle
Skizze zu den 2 schwarzen Mänteln (Pichler-Block), 2010

Michel Würthle
Teller Ohrfeigen, 2010

Michel Würthle
Tintin au Paris Bar, 2010

Michel Würthle
untitled, 2010

Michel Würthle
Heiner Müller, 2009

Michel Würthle
Der Mantel (Pichler-Block), 2008

Michel Würthle
Kränkung (Pichler-Block), 2008

Michel Würthle
Kunstfälscher aus Düsseldorf, 2008

Michel Würthle
Skizze zu den 2 schwarzen Mänteln (Pichler-Block), 2008

Michel Würthle
St. Martin, 2008

Michel Würthle
…es bleibt sein Mantel (Pichler-Block), 2008

Michel Würthle
Lieba Missel, 2007

Michel Würthle
M. W. Gedicht: Sad man in gay N.Y., 2007

Michel Würthle
Physiognomie, 2007

Michel Würthle
Portrait Daniel Richter, 2007

Michel Würthle
Ziegelwand, 2007

Michel Würthle
Martin Kippenberger, Taverne auf Syros, 2005

Michel Würthle
O’Gott, 2005

Michel Würthle
untitled, 2005

Michel Würthle
untitled, 2005

Michel Würthle
Austria, 1999

Michel Würthle
Austrian dentists in Burkina F., 1999

Michel Würthle
Für Havanna Müller, 1996

Michel Würthle
Kthma Canné, 1996

Michel Würthle
Portrait Kurt Kocherscheidt, 1996

Michel Würthle
Appetiti, 1995

Michel Würthle
B&B erotische Zeichnungen, 1995

Michel Würthle
Kthma Canné, 1995

Michel Würthle
Mi hermano Kippenberger, 1995

Michel Würthle
Nehmen und Geben, Albert!, 1995

Michel Würthle
Portrait Robert Musil, 1995

Michel Würthle
Samen in Beton, 1995

Michel Würthle
untitled, 1995

Michel Würthle
An einem grauen Novembermorgen, 1993

Michel Würthle
Die Sonne hat uns blöd gestochen (Pichler-Block), 1993

Michel Würthle
Mau-Mau, Michel vs. Martin, 1993

Michel Würthle
Morgen sprengen, 1993

Michel Würthle
Pornografie, 1988

Michel Würthle
Marzahn, 1983

Guiseppe Zevola
Toto, 2005

unknown artist
Jörg Immendorff, 1993

unknown artist
Zpusob Melancholicky, 1930

List of works Paris Bar

Christopher Williams
Supplement 08 (Kunsthalle Zürich), 2008

Christopher Williams
untitled (study in yellow, Berlin)
Dirk Schaper Studio, Berlin, June 21st, 2007 (No. 1), 2008

Christopher Williams
One of 406 ceiling panels (23 3/4 × 23 3/4 inches each)
Covered on the back with striped paper (green and white)
Each stripe 8.7 cm
From “Frost and Defrost: A work in situ by Daniel Buren”
Otis Art Institute Gallery, 2401 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California
January 28 – March 4, 1979
Al Glicksman, Gallery Director; Christopher D’Arcangelo, Assistant to Daniel Buren
Photography by the Douglas M. Parker Studio, Glendale, California
May 4, 2006, 2006

Christopher Williams
Afri-Cola (Ashtray)
Manufacturer: E. & A. Bückling, 6956 Neudenau, Germany
Date of production: 1980–89
Photography by the Douglas M. Parker Studio, Glendale, California
November 26, 2005, 2005

Christopher Williams
Brochure for Dacia 1300i
Dacia 1300: Licensed model of the Renault 12
289 cm3, 39.7 kw, 142 km/h max speed
First presented simultaneously at the Expozitia Realizarilor Economiei Nationale, Bukarest, and at the Mondial de l’Automobile, Paris (as Renault 12) in 1969
Produced 1969 – July 21, 2004, at Uzina de Autoturisme, Pitesti, Romania
Spare parts being produced until 2014 in Mioveni, Romania (on July 2, 1999, Renault bought 51% of Dacia)
Photography by the Douglas M. Parker Studio, Glendale, California
August 5, 2005, 2005

Christopher Williams
Kiev MC Arsat (Zodiak-8) 30 mm f3.5, 1:3.5
Product aperture: f/3.5
Serial number: 870701
Medium format camera lens
Photography by the Douglas M. Parker Studio, Glendale, California
August 4, 2005, 2005

Christopher Williams
Nikkor w 300 mm f/5.6 with no. 3 shutter 1:5.6
Product aperture: f/64
Product number: 1320NAS
Serial number: 780612
Large format camera lens
Photography by the Douglas M. Parker Studio, Glendale, California
August 2, 2005, 2005

Christopher Williams
Kodak three-point reflection guide, 1968 (Meiko smiling), 2005

Christopher Williams
Lodz, October 2, 2004, 2004

Christopher Williams
Kiev 88, 4.6 lbs. (2.1 kg)
Manufacturer: Zavod Arsenal Factory, Kiev, Ukraine
Date of production: 1983–87
Photography by the Douglas M. Parker Studio, Glendale, California
March 28, 2003, 2003