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Who's afraid of Bauhaus?
Who's afraid of Bauahs? © Pauline Ruther

An Exercise in Defending Democracy. An event series on the Bauhaus and diversity

#backstage #In Depth
21 min reading time

With this event series, we aim to provide a space to collectively explore democratic values and the importance of a diverse and inclusive society.

The Bauhaus serves as a historic point of reference for understanding our present circumstances. After all, the school existed during an era of political and social volatility from 1919 to 1933. At the Bauhaus, instructors and students taught and learned together – people from all walks of life, with different backgrounds and from all around the world.

 

Based on the Bauhaus, we view taking a stand as an important element of our institutional practice and as a skill that requires exercise. Exercises in material studies and paper-folding distinguished the Bauhaus preliminary course and helped students develop their individual abilities. At the same time, instructors encouraged students to explore their own convictions regarding design and social attitude. With our event series, we invite the public to engage in critical thinking, reflection and examination in order to learn from one another and practise the art of taking a stand. Against the backdrop of the historic Bauhaus and in view of recent political developments and debates, we ask:

How can we as a cultural institution and individual citizens take on greater responsibility and actively strengthen an open society?

As cultural institutions, museums are places of encounter and exchange that invite reflection and discussion on societal issues. With a mix of discussions, lectures, and creative workshops, the event series “An Exercise in Defending Democracy” addresses various aspects of a democratic and solidarity-driven society”!

29 April
Photo: Berliner Wohngemeinschaft Günter Conrad, Hans Keßler und Franz Rohwer, 1932
Photographer unknown

Archives: The politics of modern collecting

Archives and museums view their collections as the memory of society. But who ultimately decides what is preserved? Who gets to view these collections, and what biographies or stories are completely missing from them? Based on examples and selected objects, the guests discussed their politically motivated collection strategies and the integration of various social groups.

With: Sophie Gerber (Technisches Museum Wien), Lynhan Balatbat-Helbock (SAVVY Contemporary), Birga Meyer (Schwules Museum)

14–24 February 2025
Otti Berger, Geburtstagscollage mit Herzen für Alfred Arndt, 1929, Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin
Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin

„Dear Democracy, …“
sharing letters.
sharing lives

What kind of world do we want to live in and how do we want to live together? “Dear Democracy,…” the Correctiv research in 2023 showed us that democratic values must be protected every day. This is especially true in politically challenging times when the liberal democratic values of our society are under attack. With the the election in February 2024, we were campaigning for democracy as our form of society and government. Therefore, we invited visitor to write love letters: to democracy, to a pluralistic and open society.

11–13 December 2024
Marionettes by Kurt Schmidt, 1923
Photographer unknown, Bauhaus Archive Berlin

Connecting through Play: Ready, Set, Clay!

The openplay collective invited participants to engage with the “Bauhaus Playground” installation. Under the guiding question “What does a democratic society need?”, dialogue and play intertwined, resulting in clay figures symbolizing spaces for connection and exchange—a playful reflection on solidarity and community.

5 November 2024
© Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin

Who’s Afraid of Bauhaus? Far-Right Cultural Policies of the AfD

This event addressed the AfD’s attacks on the Bauhaus, labeling it as a “misstep of modernism” and “homogenized mediocrity.” Referring to the closure of the Bauhaus by the National Socialists in 1932, the discussion highlighted parallels in the rhetoric used by the AfD and explored how cultural institutions can respond to such attacks.
Speakers: Peter Laudenbach, Prof. Dr. Benjamin-Immanuel Hoff, Dr. Annemarie Jaeggi

The full discussion is available to listen to
10 September 2024
© Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin

Solidarity! Cultural institutions and democracy in danger

The discussion focused on the challenges of political activism and the role of legal studies in relation to social responsibility. It highlighted how networks and civil society organizations contribute to the promotion of social justice through their efforts and the legal frameworks they must consider in the process.
Speaker: Julia Leser (Netzwerk Halt!ung e.V.), Janina Benduski (DIE VIELEN), Samira Akbarian (Jurist)

18 July 2024
Otti Berger at her work table, photo: unknown, around 1931
Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin

The Life of a Textile Designer: Otti Berger under the Nazi Regime

Marking the 80th anniversary of Bauhaus textile designer Otti Berger’s death, a panel discussion explored her life and the impact of the professional ban imposed on her in 1936 as a Jewish foreigner. The discussion examined how state-legitimized exclusion operated and how Berger’s scattered works were eventually reconstructed.
Speakers: Dr. Annemarie Jaeggi, Dr. Corinna Alexandra Rader, Nina Kubowitsch, Moderation: Dr. Esther Cleven

11 June 2024
Bauhaus-Gebäude Dessau (1925-1926) mit Hakenkreuzfahne am Ateliergebäude, 1933
Fotografin unbekannt, Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin

Finding Stance: Bauhaus and National Socialism

The series opened with the presentation of the “Bauhaus and National Socialism” exhibition by the Klassik Stiftung Weimar, alongside the inauguration of the “Forced Labor under National Socialism” museum in Weimar. Together with experts such as Anke Blümm and Jens-Christian Wagner, we discussed the significance of these historical projects and their relevance in addressing today’s far-right tendencies.
Speakers: Dr. Annemarie Jaeggi, Dr. Anke Blümm, Prof. Dr. Jens-Christian Wagner

Vier Bauhäusler, um 1927-1929
Vier Bauhäusler, um 1927-1929 Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin_web

We invite everyone interested to join us in critically engaging with the past and present while developing perspectives for the future.

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