100 Years of Bauhaus Exhibition: The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar Presents Current Projects, Discourses and Future Designs as Part of its Centenary Celebration
A century has passed since the State Bauhaus presented its work to the public for the first time in a major exhibition. The »Bauhaus-Ausstellung« (Bauhaus Exhibition), whose reputation reached far beyond Weimar, was held from 15 August to 30 September 1923 and was a magnet for countless artists, intellectuals and art aficionados of the time. The exhibition solidified the international reputation of the art school.
The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar is seizing the opportunity of this anniversary to share its contemporary works and subjects with the public. Students and instructors invite you to exhibitions and events under the title of »23:ideas« from April to November 2023. These events and exhibitions centre around collaborations with partners of the university.
»We are relying on the1923 exhibition as a reference point to reflect from a modern perspective on the societal contributions that universities in general, and the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar in particular, can and must make. With a foundation based on creativity and innovation, the Bauhaus-Universität strives to serve the common good, paying special attention to participation and diversity, technological development and environmental sustainability. Through our actions this year, we hope to engage in a conversation with the public«, explains Bauhaus-Universität Weimar President Peter Benz.
The main location for this year's events is the Schiller Museum, located in Weimar’s city centre. The museum is set to house »nova space«, the University Gallery, which will move in with its interdisciplinary »Power House« exhibition for the entire duration of the anniversary. The densely packed programme includes creative forces from all four of the university’s faculties: Students and alumni will be exhibiting work based on contemporary issues together with international artists. The exhibition is divided into several distinct phases, and this constant transformation encourages visitors to return and experience the installation in new ways. Other events held in the museum include carpet weaving workshops and yoga.
Teaching and research projects from all four faculties will be showcased on selected dates at various locations. In May, the »Bauhaus Urban Energy Hub« interactive »Reallabor« for sustainable architecture and energy concepts will be set up on the campus at Coudraystraße. The lab was developed by students from the Department of Building Physics. Students from the Department of Photography have been playing with the theme of the souvenir shop and will be exhibiting their photography in mobile micro-exhibitions at various locations across Weimar this summer. Temporary architectural structures will be moving into Weimar’s urban space as »Wohn-Inseln« (residential islands), and a pavilion exhibiting residential utopias has been designed by the Department of Building Morphology. The Department of Film and Media Studies brings together science, art and philosophy, and interlinks research and presentation with their »Hexentanz« (Witch Dance) project.
The university is especially focussing on expanding existing partnerships and initiating new ones during the anniversary year. One example of this is the partnership with the Klassik Stiftung Weimar. Interventions, exhibitions and discourse will play an integral role in 2023’s theme of the year, »Wohnen« (Living). Additional partners include the »Kunstfest Weimar« and the »Achava Festspiele Thüringen«. The university will also be welcoming numerous international guests from partner universities, alumni and Bauhaus Summer School students.
During the »Bauhaus-Wochen« (Bauhaus Weeks), which are scheduled to take place from 15 to 31 August —exactly 100 years after the original Bauhaus Exhibition, all of Weimar invites you to join in the celebrations The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar will be participating in te festivities through digital façade projections around the Haus am Horn, temporary installations on campus and the grand Bauhaus-Parade at the end of the week.
An overview of the exhibitions, projects and events can be found at https://www.uni-weimar.de/en/university/profile/centennial-year-23ideas/.
Background
The first Bauhaus Exhibition took place in Weimar from 15 August to 30 September 1923. In their first major showcase, the Bauhäusler displayed their results of their work together at what are now Museum Neues Weimar, the Main Building, the van de Velde Building and the Haus am Horn. In the process the Bauhäusler themselves became part of the exhibition: In the Main Building, Joost Schmidt, Herbert Bayer and Walter Gropius staged rooms and staircases, and Oskar Schlemmer designed murals for the foyer and staircase of the workshop building. The highlight of the exhibition was the model Haus am Horn, a single-family turnkey home that had been built in four months and which presented the Bauhaus ideas on architecture, furniture, design and colour all in one place for the first time.
23:Ideas — 100 years of Bauhaus Exhibition
Programme from April to November 2023
https://www.uni-weimar.de/en/university/profile/centennial-year-23ideas/
For questions, please contact Marit Haferkamp in University Communications via e-mail: marit.haferkamp[at]uni-weimar.de or phone: +49 3643 / 581164.