Düsseldorf profile: Angela Fette

The artist and musician Angela Fette gives her private cultural tips for Düsseldorf, talks about the lively music scene and the wine bar with the best atmosphere in the city.

How long have you lived in Düsseldorf and what do you do here?

I've lived in Düsseldorf since 2001, I moved here from Frankfurt to finish my studies at the Düsseldorf Art Academy. I work here as an artist, have my studio and infrastructure here, which also means friends and acquaintances, many artists with whom I work and with whom I can inspire each other. Electronic music is a side area in which I am active. I also regularly invite people to my studio for philosophical salons called "Eyes Wide Shut".

What is your favorite cultural venue? 

The NRW Art Collection in the Ständehaus and on Grabbeplatz, the Salon des Amateurs.

An attraction or place that you like to show visitors? 

The Rhine beaches on the Lörick side of the Rhine. The Rhine in general. Rhine promenade, Rhine park, Rhine side left, Rhine side right.

Which work of art symbolizes Düsseldorf for you? 

The piece "Spiegelsaal" by Kraftwerk and the electronic music that later emerged in the wake of Kraftwerk and others, such as Kreidler, Toroccoco Rot, Harmonious Thelonious, Toresch, Lena Willikens, the musicians and DJs, some of whom emerged from the Salon des Amateurs. And Katharina Fritsch's works in the Kunstsammlung NRW.

Which museum or gallery have you always wanted to visit but haven't made it yet? 

The Pool showroom

Which cultural institution in the area can you recommend? 

Skulpturenhalle Neuss by Thomas Schütte, special architecture with beautiful exhibitions.

Which artist(s) from Düsseldorf's rich history would you like to talk to? 

I've been talking to the contemporaries that are important to me the whole time ;-). From the past? Heinrich Heine.

Your architectural highlight in Düsseldorf?

I love the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus by Bernhard Pfau and Bernhard Sehring. The St Rochus Church in Prinz-Georg-Strasse by Paul Schneider-Esleben, post-war modernism. I also find the Kunsthalle Düsseldorf in its brutalist building, the KIT - Art in the Tunnel and the Opera House very special.

What is your favorite neighborhood and why? 

During the week: The old town around Ratinger Strasse, nice places to sit outside, lively. At the weekend: Derendorf, but also out of convenience, as I live there and the city center is too crowded.

The best coffee in town is at...? 

Da Forno, ice cream parlor in Derendorf.

Where do you prefer to go for dinner with friends? 

The Kurve in Derendorf, Israeli restaurant, but only since the Sennhütte is no longer there, that was my favorite place. Hopefully it will open again soon. If you're only a little hungry, then go to Kakhaber, a wine bar in Rethelstrasse, where you can get small snacks and excellent Georgian wine, including natural wine. And the very best relaxed atmosphere.

Your favorite bar or club?

Salon des Amateurs

Where is Düsseldorf the most Düsseldorf? 

Rhine promenade

Where do you go to relax?

Rheinpark, Lörick lido, cycle tour to Kaiserswerth.

What is a typical Düsseldorf souvenir for you? 

A record from "Hitsville" in Wallstrasse.

Which hotel can you recommend to out-of-town guests? 

Hotel Ufer: The usual and cozy place for artists and musicians, people with an affinity for the art scene or DJs who are busy in the Salon es Amateurs.

This article is funded by REACT-EU.

Cover picture: Düsseldorf Tourismus