A Joint Art Project

When we recently picked up two heavy boxes of posters from the Academy of Visual Arts (HGB) in Leipzig, it was the provisional conclusion of a longer-term collaborative project. Since 2018, students from the university have been working on the topic of HELLERAU. They entered into a dialogue with the exciting location and Deutsche Werkstätten, accompanied by Professor Annette Kisling and the curator of our Werkstättengalerie, Colin Ardley.

The project with the academy brought together two things that have always been of particular interest to us as a company: Working with learners and art. We believe that both aspects are actively reality changing. Learning and engaging with art are about creativity and changing attitudes. We hoped the project would bring a new, fresh and unconventional approach to Hellerau and to us.

The results did just that and can be found in a poster edition with contributions by Ronny Aviram, Susanne Kontny, Adrian Lück, Theresa Münnich and Stephen Stahn. Graphics and design of the posters are by Hanako Emden and Sophie Florian (Copyright 2020: artists, graphic designers).

Each of the students brought a different topic to the canvas. Ronny Aviram questions the representation of immoderate luxury yachts, which today receive their select interiors at Deutsche Werkstätten. Adrian Lück arranges small-scale, leftover materials, which in their form and finish refer to these exclusive productions. Susanne Kontny looks back at the events in Hellerau during the National Socialist era. Theresa Münnich accompanies a Deutsche Werkstätten employee in her car from Leipzig to Dresden-Hellerau and has a dialogue with her about her journey to work.

Stephen Stahn arranges an extensive group of found images that he was able to discover on the Internet under the term "Hellerau Möbel," (Hellerau Furniture) which is still associated with the image of serial production of modern home furniture. (Anette Kisling)

The students provided us with texts that we want to show together with the two-page A2 posters in the gallery area of the new company building. Well over 200 colleagues work there, for whom the input will provide plenty of material for conversation and discussion. Depending on the Corona security situation, the gallery will be open to visitors. Please refer to our menu item "Events" for the relevant details.

Picture Gallery

The copyrights of the pictures belong to the artists. Here you can see extracts of the students illustrative work.

Ronny Aviram questions the representation of highly-priced luxury yachts which today receive their select interiors in Deutsche Werkstätten.

Adrian Lück arranges small-scale, leftover materials that refer to the exclusive interior fittings in their form and surface.

Stephen Stahn arranges an extensive group of found pictures that he was able to discover on the internet under the term "Hellerau Möbel" (Hellerau Furniture) which is still associated with the image of serial production of modern home furniture.

Susanne Kontny looks back at the events in Hellerau during the National Socialist era.

Theresa Münnich accompanies a Deutsche Werkstätten employee in her car from Leipzig to Dresden-Hellerau and talks to her about her commute.