EXBERLINER Issue 168, February 2018

WHAT’S ON — Art
Highlight
Spiritual stargazing
Ancient gadgetry is the best part of
Martin-Gropius-Bau’s library-like
new exhibition.
Regular visitors to the Gropius-
Bau might be thrown off by
Jews, Christians and Muslims:
Scientific Discourse in the Middle
Ages 500-1500, an exhibition that
highlights the transfer of knowledge
between the world’s three major
monotheistic religions. Comprised
almost entirely of giant ancient tomes
full of medieval science in archaic
languages, it’s more archival library
than art, but for those who covet
16th-century manuscript paintings
of Aristotle – this one’s for you. After
impressive Greek, Arabic, Hebrew,
and Occidental texts, an ancient
plant book known as the Vienna
Dioscorides in the medical section
contains sensual illustrations of herbs
in many translated and copied forms.
Perhaps most interesting
from our contemporary standpoint,
however, is the historical conflation
of astrology and astronomy in which
the stars and mythologies are one.
This astral obsession can be seen in
instruments like the 1029-era bronze
astrolabe shown above, used to
measure angles in the sky, made for
astronomer Muammad Ibn al-Saffar
in Toledo. It seems we humans have
always been determined to locate
ourselves in the universe – by any
means necessary. — SH
Jews, Christians and Muslims
HHHII Through Mar 4 Martin-
Gropius Bau, Kreuzberg
Left: Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Department of Oriental Art (Sprenger 2050) , right: Austrian National Library
DONNERSTAG 22.2.
Onair & Perpetuum Jazzile
in Concert
22. – 25. FEBRUAR 2018
FREITAG 23.2.
Gravitation –
Konzertperformance zu
Pergolesis „Stabat Mater“
Mädchenchor der Sing-Akademie
zu Berlin, capella vitalis berlin u. a.
Leitung: Friederike Stahmer
SAMSTAG 24.2.
Vocal Night mit
Pop-Up und petitfour
Tickets:
030 – 288 788 588
www.radialsystem.de
www.choratberlin.de
SONNTAG 25.2.
Schicksalslieder
Rundfunkchor Berlin
Leitung: Gijs Leenaars
Sing Dela Sing –
alle singen all night long
Cem A. Süzer, Gunter Papperitz