As if the kitch of Checkpoint Charlie wasn't bad enough, I looked around the corner and caught sight of the Charlie Shop on Zimmerstra�e, in the former East German sector. Everything in this area is the Charlie something or other. It wasn't the shop aspect of this building that caught my eye but the bas relief above the first floor.

This sort of thing was very popular on public buildings in the Stalinist era. We have our own proud example on the balcony of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in Kildare St. But this Berlin example is stunning in its grosseness.

Before looking at the comic strip panel in detail, I would just like to dally a moment and draw attention to the dividers on the windows one floor above. Hard to know what to make of it, and we must always remember that we are looking at these things in retrospect. For me it has resonances of the image over the door of BBC House in Shepherd's Bush in London. That particular piece was sculpted by a now known paedophile.

Anyway, back to the panel for a brief inspection travelling from left to right. The fertility of it would knock you over, starting with the sunflower and progressing to a young maiden in an invitingly relaxed pose. No boob job here. The sculptor has been quite discrete in his revealingness.

Next this prematurely aged youngster bringing in a harvest of flowers and accompanied by his faithful little dog.

Not forgetting the special agents whose frantic travails not only keep the flowers blooming from year to year, but also provide us with honey, and a sterling example of how hard work serves the common good. The busy bee was never busier than in this workers' republic where all art testifies to the happiness and fulfilment of its citizens.

I'm not sure how straightforward this representation is intended to be. I immediately thought of Leda and the Swan, not to mention a more recent example, but this appears to be a goose and the lady appears to be gently saying NO. Not one for the children's story book, I fear.

The Cornucopia or Bowl of Plenty. It might be my imagination by I think I can even see a squirell squirelling his nuts for, God forbid, any possible hard times ahead.

Another young lady, this time possibly prepared to take a gambol. All a bit confusing for a Christian Brothers' Boy.

Now, this looks really obscene, though I have recollections of seeing something like it before. As it is hardly in praise of cannibalism, I assume it is some sort of assertion of male fertility. No doubt the classical scholars among my readers will come up with a more civilised interpretation.

The male rests after a hard day reading the works of Marx and Lenin. Notice the delicately draped cloth, a nod in the direction of modesty denied the female participants in this weird pageant.

Finally, this naked little boy bringing in the harvest.

Either I'm very twisted or the guy who did this stuff was a weirdo. I know I'm looking at it from a modern perspective where we have discovered all sorts of funny things going on in high places. And I know this Soviet type art tends to be rough and ready, and this particular example may not have weathered all that well.

But really.

Incidentally, it was only when I was compiling this page that I noticed the sculptures had all to do with agriculture. While that was an element in the general Soviet style stuff, you would normally get a fair emphasis on industy as well at this type of location. I'm assuming, therefore, that this building was specifically related to the agricultural sector, perhaps a ministry. Can't find any confirmation online at the moment.