Eugen Batz
The spatial effect of colours and forms, 1929/30
Tempera over graphite on black paper
30.2 x 32.9 cm
Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin
© VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2009
Bauhaus_ literally means “House of Building” or “Building School”. Back in 1919, in the town of Weimar in Thuringia - Germany the design revolution began. World renowned architect Walter Gropius established an academy to teach up-to-date ideas in color theory, painting, printmaking, pottery, industrial design, interior design, weaving and textiles, typography and graphic design. Nonetheless, despite the school’s name architecture was not taught; students who wished to be educated on building design were sent to work in Gropius’s private architecture office.
Walter Gropius, 1928
in front of his design for the Chicago Tribune Tower of 1922
Photo: Associated Press, Berlin
Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin
The Bauhaus Masters in 1926
(on the roof of the Bauhaus building, 4 December 1926)
left to right: Josef Albers, Hinnerk Scheper, Georg Muche,
László Moholy-Nagy, Herbert Bayer, Joost Schmidt, Walter Gropius,
Marcel Breuer, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Lyonel Feininger, Gunta Stölzl, Oskar Schlemmer
Photo: unknown
Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin / Musée National d’Art Moderne / Centre Pompidou
Today, 90 years later all eyes are on Weimar, Jena and Erfurt as the crucial meeting points of the Bauhaus anniversary. The Bauhaus, was the most important and influential school of design of the 20th century despite the few years of its existence. Till present day the Bauhaus has had a long lasting impact on art, design, architecture and every day life, mostly because of the principle of form. Various classic and influential design objects of the 20th century were developed in Weimar during the Bauhaus from 1919 – 1925.
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, 1934
Photo: Werner Rohde
Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Contribution ‘Wabe’ (honeycomb) to the idea competition for the skyscraper at the Bahnhof Friedrichstrasse, 1922
Large photograph, supplemented by drawing
140 x 100 cm
Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin
© VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2009
For the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Bauhaus, as of July 22nd – October 4th 2009 the Modell Bauhaus in Weimar is presenting the exhibition “Berlin // Martin - Gropius - Bau”, where it primary focuses on the early years of the world renown school of design. The aim of this exhibition is to portray Weimar as a laboratory where ideas and thoughts that were conceived subsequently reached a mature state deriving approval worldwide. The innovative approaches and impulse affected the world of design developed at the Bauhaus up till current day.
The exhibit will present well known and less known features of the Bauhaus were the assignments from the school workshops are presented as the highlights, as well as works of the Bauhaus masters. Over 900 objects from international collections will be exhibited including loans from collections of other museums.
Wassily Kandinsky
Untitled (from the portfolio for Walter Gropius on his birthday, 18th May 1924), 1924
Black ink, water colours and opaque colours
19.6 x 22.5 cm
Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin
© VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2009
Marcel Breuer (design and realisation)
Gerhard Oschmann (reconstruction)
Lady’s dressing-table from the Bauhaus experimental house “Am Horn”, Weimar, 1923 / 2004
168 x 126.5 x 48 cm
Photo: Hartwig Klappert, Berlin
Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau
Other events of the exhibition include a five day International Symposium “Global Bauhaus” which will take place on September 21st – September 26th, 2009 at the Martin-Gropius-Bau, Cinema and Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau. The Symposium will focus on the internationalization, the network character of the avant-garde and the migration paths of the Bauhaus and examine the major questions such as: How did the Bauhaus achieve such a world-wide influence and become an exemplary institution? Who were the multipliers of the Bauhaus idea? What does the Bauhaus stand for today? The speakers are worldwide leading architects, artists, design historians, art teachers and cultural scholars who have engaged in the research of the history and influence of the Bauhaus.
Walter Gropius
Work model for the memorial for the “March Heroes”, 1921
Klassik Stiftung Weimar
© VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2009
Herbert Bayer
Design for the multi-media trade fair stand of a toothpaste manufacturer, 1924
Opaque colours, charcoal, coloured ink, graphite and collage elements on paper
54.6 x 46.8 cm
Harvard University Art Museums, Gift of the artist
© VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2009
Another interesting event which twenty lucky pupils from partner universities will participate in is the Bauhaus Summer School which will last eight to ten days in mid- September 2009 at Weimar – Dessau – Berlin. They will participate in seminars given by members of the Bauhaus institutions. Emphasis will be placed on the intimate encounter with ideas and artifacts of the Bauhaus at the original locations. To this end, they will be able to visit private homes and work with objects in the Bauhaus collection. The goal of this program is the support of international students in the area of Bauhaus research, the encounter of young people from different cultures, scholarly exchange of ideas and the intensification of project-oriented cooperation.
Marcel Breuer
Club Chair B 3, 2nd version, 1926
Tubular steel, welded transitions and screwed plug and socket connections,
anthracite-coloured wire mesh straps
70.5 x 81 x 69.5 cm; seat 30 cm high;
steel tube diameter 22 mm
Photo: Hartwig Klappert, Berlin
Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau
László Moholy-Nagy
Light Space Modulator, 1922-1930
(1970 replica of the original in the Busch-Reisinger Museum)
Chrome-plated steel, aluminium, glass, plexiglass, wood, electric motor
Height 91 cm
Photo: Hartwig Klappert, Berlin
Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin
© VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2009
Alfred Arndt
Colour plans for the exterior design of the Bauhaus Masters’ houses in Dessau, 1926
Black ink and tempera on drawing paper
66.2 x 46.7 cm
Cardboard backing 75.7 x 55.8 cm
Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin
© VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2009
Marcel Breuer / Gunta Stölzl
“African Chair”, 1921
Oak and cherry wood painted with water-soluble paints, hemp, wool, cotton, silk
179.4 x 65 x 67.1 cm
Acquired with funds provided by the Ernst von Siemens Kunststiftung
Photo: Hartwig Klappert, Berlin
Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin
© VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2009
For further information in this exhibition click here to log on to Modell Bauhaus the Exhibition // Berlin // Martin – Gropius – Bau.
Other major exhibitions celebrating the Bauhaus 90 Year Anniversary in Germany can be found in the following links however, there will also be exhibitions regarding the Bauhaus anniversary at the Museums:
- Bauhaus Exhibition // Neues Museum: "Franz Ehrlich" // August 1st - October 11th, 2009
- Bauhaus Exhibition // Stadtmuseum Jena: "Wassily Kandinsky" // September 6th - November 22nd, 2009
- Bauhaus Exhibition // Kunsthaus Apolda Avant-garde: "Feininger and the Bauhaus" // September 13th - December 20th, 2009
- Bauhaus Exhibition // MOMA: "Bauhaus 1919–1933: Workshops for Modernity" // November 8, 2009 – January 25, 2010
