BERLIN, AUGUST 2025.
The smell of fresh paint still lingers, the floor echoes with the sound of footsteps, and soft light falls through the tall windows of the historic building at Friedrichstraße 210. Here, at the former Checkpoint Charlie, a symbol of Germany's division, a new meeting place is taking shape: Notagallery Art Embassy Berlin opens its doors on September 12.
Ivan Gette, artist, gallerist and founder of Notagallery, welcomes us amid still empty walls that will soon be filled with stories.
MR. GETTE, YOU ARE OPENING THE NOTAGALLERY ART EMBASSY BERLIN AT A HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT LOCATION. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO STAND HERE?
It feels like a promise. This place is full of memories — it speaks of separation, of walls, of borders. Now it becomes a space for encounters, for exchange and art. The symbolism is powerful: a place of control becomes a place of freedom. I believe art can tear down walls and this is exactly where we want to make that tangible.
THE NAME 'ART EMBASSY' SOUNDS LIKE DIPLOMACY. IS THAT A CONSCIOUS DECISION?
Absolutely. For me, art is a universal language. A message that needs no translation. When I say 'embassy', I mean it literally: this place is meant to be an embassy, an invitation. We want to bring together artists of all disciplines and nationalities, giving them a platform regardless of their background or profile. It is not just about showing works, but about hearing voices. Art is a language of trust, of dialogue and we want to create a stage for that here.
YOU SPEAK OF INEQUALITIES IN THE ART MARKET. WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO CHANGING THAT?
The art market is often shaped by networks and structures that make access easier for some and exclude others. With Notagallery, I want to create a space where that is different. We focus on diversity, open formats, collaboration over competition. Artists here should not only exhibit, but also grow, learn from one another, build networks. Change does not happen on its own — you have to create spaces for it, physically and mentally.
YOUR PREVIOUS LOCATION WAS POTSDAMER PLATZ. NOW YOU ARE MOVING TO CHECKPOINT CHARLIE. WHY THIS STEP?
Potsdamer Platz was our starting point, a place full of energy and history. But Checkpoint Charlie carries an even deeper symbolic weight. We want to show that art can be part of urban space and that historic sites can take on new meaning. Here we are opening a building that stood still for a long time and filling it with life. It is an interim use, yes, but for me it is more: a transformation. It is the beginning of something that will reach far beyond Berlin.
THE ART EMBASSY SPANS THREE FLOORS AND OVER 2,000 SQUARE METRES OF EXHIBITION SPACE. WHAT CAN VISITORS EXPECT?
A journey. We do not just want to put on exhibitions — we want to create spaces where you can get lost and find yourself again. Painting, sculpture, textile art, installations — it will be a kaleidoscope of contemporary art. But music, performances and talks are also part of the concept. Art is not a static object on a wall; it comes alive when you experience it. That is what we want to make possible here.
HOW IMPORTANT IS THE SUPPORT OF EHRET+KLEIN FOR THIS PROJECT?
Very important. Without partners who believe in visions, a project like this would not be possible. Ehret+Klein is providing us with the space because they recognised that art and urban development belong together. I think it is remarkable that a company looks beyond returns and creates cultural spaces. This interim use is a great opportunity for us and I believe its impact will last long.
THINKING ABOUT THE OPENING: WHAT DO YOU HOPE VISITORS WILL TAKE WITH THEM?
I hope people leave here and say: 'I felt something.' Perhaps inspiration, perhaps hope, perhaps simply curiosity. Art can shift perspectives, it can bring us closer to one another. In a world that is often loud and fractured, we want to create a space here where you reconnect — with yourself, with others, with the city. If we achieve that, it will all have been worth it. Soon life will move in here: colours, voices, ideas.
Notagallery Art Embassy Berlin is more than just a gallery — it is a vision. A place where art becomes a conversation that knows no borders.
