Museum für Asiatische Kunst

A merging of the Museum for Indian Art and the Museum of East Asian Art in Berlin's Dahlem museum complex created one of the world’s most important collections of art from the Indo-Asian cultural area.

The Museum of Asian Art’s holdings are organized into two sections by region. The Collection of South, Southeast and Central Asian Art presents works from the 4th millennium BC to the present day in 400 exhibits, and boasts one of the largest assortments of Indian art outside India.

Also notable is the acclaimed “Turfan collection” of Silk Road rarities obtained in Prussian archaeological expeditions to China in the early 20th century. The highlight is a full-scale reconstruction of a Buddhist temple decorated with original murals.

In 1906, the director general of Berlin's Royal Museums recommended the founding of the East Asian Art Collection as the first of its kind in Germany. Today, the collection displays a broad range of art from China, Korea and Japan. A central exhibition room is dedicated to Buddhist art from all three countries. Important items from the collection include Chinese ceramics from Neolithic times up to the 15th century, a tea-room built by Japanese carpenters, and a selection of ancient bronzes and jade pieces.

The New Art Space examines current trends, including a contemporary video installation by Korean artist Nam June Paik. Film screenings and interactive presentations round out the information experience. Audio guides for both of the museum’s collections are available in several languages.