Bauhaus twenty-21 -...

Bauhaus twenty-21an OngOing LegacyPhotographs by gordon watkinson

after touring throughout europe – Frankfurt (De), Krakow (PL), nice (FR), Munich (De), stockholm (se), Ljubljana (si), Bratislava (sK), Brussels (Be), and eindhoven (nL) – the exhibition Bauhaus twenty–21: An Ongoing Legacy – Photographs by Gordon Watkinson will be on tour in the us starting in January 2013.

January 24 – May 4, 2013 Jule collins Museum of Fine art, auburn university / auburn, aL

May 23 – september 1, 2013 arkansas arts center / Little Rock, aR

september 19, 2013 – January 5, 2014 art Museum of the university of Memphis / Memphis, tnsignature event for the 60th anniversary of aia Memphis and the 10th anniversary of aia Memphis ‘architecture Month’ in september

January 23 – May 4, 2014 Price tower arts center / Bartlesville, OK

september 18, 2014 – January 4, 2015 Prichard art gallery, university of idaho / Moscow, iD

January 22 – May 3, 2015 Palm springs art Museum / Palm springs, ca

For immediateRelease

JanuaRy 2013

“the most original exhibition and publication on the topic of the Bauhaus came 2009 from new york photographer gordon watkinson: [...] a project at the intersection between conceptual art and architecture theory, that one can only recommend.”

hans-Michael Koetzle, PhOtO international (germany)

www.fotosynthesis.com

Walter Gropius and the two subsequent heads of the Bauhaus school (1919-1933), the architects hannes Meyer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, introduced principles that shaped the foundation of modern architecture. their philosophy emphasized the creation of classical forms without extraneous ornamentation; while embracing technology, it stressed the search for solutions to contemporary design problems in urban planning, housing and utilitarian mass-production.

conceived as a multidisciplinary project encompassing architecture, design, and photography, the exhibition Bauhaus twenty-21 is the first critical and visual exploration of the Bauhaus heritage in the context of contemporary living and architecture. in a dialogue between the timeless modernism of Bauhaus architecture and the visions of contemporary practitioners, the exhibition offers a unique perspective on Bauhaus design philosophy as it relates to architecture and its relevance in today’s society – from the use of prefabricated housing techniques to create affordable housing, to early ideas in what is today sustainable (‘green’) architecture.

Bauhaus twenty-21 showcases 12 of the most iconic achievements of Bauhaus architecture in dialogue with 12 building projects by up-and-coming as well as internationally renowned contemporary architects – all illustrated by a series of images created by us photographer gordon watkinson. the exhibition places the heritage of Bauhaus architecture in the context of current architectural trends and visualizes its ongoing influence on 21st century architecture.

“in their abstract clarity gordon watkinson’s wonderful images recall drawn elevations or sectional views, somehow resembling the translations from design to reality that we know from renderings.”

Peter cachola schmal, Director of the german architecture Museum, Frankfurt

“the Bauhaus generation’s desire for an aesthetic and high-quality but industrially produced architecture has only really become possible in the light of today’s progressive advancements in technology. it is only now, in the age of computerized mass-customization, that gropius’ aim to “eliminate the disadvantages of the machine without sacrificing any of its true advantages” seems truly achievable.”

Matthias sauerbruch, sauerbruch hutton

This page: Wassily Chairs, Marcel Breuer (1925)

Previous page: Bauhaus Building,Dessau, Germany (1925-26)


“in recent months a number of exhibitions have shown that the Bauhaus was not a doctrine but a cradle for different ideas and concepts. Just how vibrant and fundamental these concepts still are for contemporary architectural projects can be seen in a magnificent solo exhibition by the new york and Paris based photographer gordon watkinson. [...] watkinson has skillfully chosen aesthetically timeless motifs that portray the living environments of the past as a model for a way of life today”.

sandra hofmeister, Baumeister (germany)

“a true revelation.”

sylvie Beal, nice Matin (France)

in his highly aesthetic images, gordon watkinson focuses on the superlative quality of the buildings erected prior to 1933 by walter gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, hannes Meyer, georg Muche and Richard Paulick. stripping away all unnecessary elements in order to concentrate on the essence of his subjects, watkinson captures the timelessness of modern architecture and juxtaposes some of its most emblematic examples to contemporary, typologically similar buildings. the present-day architects whose work is featured in the exhibition are allmann sattler wappner, Rolf Disch, hanno Vogl- Fernheim, Fink+Jocher, galli & Rudolf, ingvartsen, graham Phillips, Petzinka Pink, RcR architects, sauerbruch hutton, werner sobek and gert wingårdh. watkinson’s distinctive visual approach underlines the manifold legacy of Bauhaus ideas and formal language at the beginning of the 21st century.

the numerous photographs are complemented by the presentation of re-editions of Bauhaus furniture designed before 1933 and still manufactured today, inviting the visitors to interact and consciously experience the timeless character of these early 20th century designs in a contemporary context.

Devised deliberately as a counter-concept to the aesthetics of historicism, Bauhaus ambitions extended well beyond pure issues of design; functional objects, apartments and houses as well as the renunciation of ostentatious details were all an integral part of an agenda for social modernization that sought to dismantle class and social differences. the exhibition also includes succinct theoretical texts and architectural drawings that offer a new perspective on the design philosophy of the Bauhaus school established in weimar 94 years ago, and its influence on subsequent generations of architects. today, this abstract aesthetic as championed by Mies van der Rohe is being nurtured to a greater extent than ever before, and refined through advanced building technologies. skywood house in Denham, the brainchild of graham Phillips, can be considered a direct descendant of Mies van der Rohe’s famous german Pavilion in Barcelona. in this context even such different typologies as in the municipal project housing in copenhagen, the private school in wädenswil near Zurich, the employment center in Reutte/tirol, and Villa Roser in skara/sweden all clearly bear common traits.

This page: House of the Present,Munich, Germany (2005)


the exhibition has been conceived by artist and photographer gordon watkinson, in cooperation with Foto+synthesis. curatorial assistance was provided by Michael siebenbrodt for the selection of the twelve Bauhaus buildings, and Falk Jaeger for the twelve contemporary projects. the introductory texts to each of the sections in the exhibition have been written by Falk Jaeger.

Photographer

Gordon Watkinson is an artist/photographer born in 1964 in charlottesville, Virginia (usa). watkinson borrowed a camera for a photography class he took at the age of 24 while attending Virginia commonwealth university in Richmond. after completing the course his professor saw enough in his work that he arranged for him to begin working as a photographic assistant. Following the initial years assisting photographers in Virginia and texas, watkinson began his career as a commercial photographer working for a broad range of clients from the fields of advertising, architecture, design, and fashion. Over the years he developed a strong affinity for 20th century art and design, which has shaped his visual approach and nourished his original passion for furniture and all things design – drawing inspiration from the work of architects Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and walter gropius, furniture designers Marcel Breuer, eileen gray, and charlotte Perriand, as much as from photographers and artists as diverse as horst P. horst, Bernd & hilla Becher, ed Ruscha, edward hopper, or graphic designer saul Bass. watkinson offers viewers the essence of his subjects, creating narrative sequences of images that focus on structure, materiality, and form.

During a trip to the Bauhaus school in Dessau/germany in the late 1990s watkinson was introduced, beyond the formal quality of the buildings, to the role of design as a solution to social issues. this became the catalyst for an intense and ongoing interaction with modernist design and architecture, and their different iterations in and outside of europe. he has since become an outspoken advocate of the power of design as a life-changing tool – then, now and for the future.

watkinson has lectured internationally, most notably at the national Museum of art, architecture and Design in Oslo/norway, and at the Bauhaus-university in weimar/germany. his work is in the permanent collection of the german architecture Museum, Frankfurt/germany and in various private collections.

curatorial advisors

Michael Siebenbrodt is the Director of the Bauhaus-Museum in weimar. he has published widely on the Bauhaus and the Bauhaus masters and students. he is the author, among others, of The Bauhaus-Museum: The Kunstsammlungen in Weimar (1996), a chronological survey of art and art schools in weimar between 1900 and 1930, and an overview of the prominent teachers and their work and theories. From 1985 to 1988 he was the head of both the museum and the experimental theater at the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation/Design center.

Prof. Dr. Falk Jaeger is a freelance critic, editor and curator in Berlin. he worked from 1983 to 1988 for the institute of history of architecture at the technical university of Berlin. From 1993 to 2000 he held the appointment of chair of theory of architecture at the technical university of Dresden. in 2001 and 2002 Jaeger was editor-in-chief of the german architecture magazine Bauzeitung. in 1993 he was awarded the First Prize for architecture criticism from the german Federal architectural association. he has contributed to numerous publications and exhibitions on the topics of architecture theory, history of architecture, and preservation, and has published, among other books, a guide to modern architecture, Building in Germany (1985), Architecture for the New Century (2001), and, since 2007, the series of monographs “Jovis Portfolio”.

“it is not raw functionalism that inspire the photographs of gordon watkinson. using light and shadow, the photographer represents the beauty of the geometrical forms, thus underlining the abstract roots of the aesthetic we know from the work of both Kandinsky and Mondrian.”

Maja Mozga-gorecka, Rzeczpospolita (Poland)

Above: Casa M-Lidia, Montagut, Spain (2003)


House am Hornweimar / germany(georg Muche, 1923)House of the PresentMunich / germany(allmann sattler wappner architekten, 2005)

Director’s Officeweimar / germany(walter gropius, 1923)Law OfficeDüsseldorf / germany(thomas Pink | Petzinka Pink architekten,2004)

Bauhaus BuildingDessau / germany(walter gropius, 1925–26)Federal Environmental AgencyDessau / germany(sauerbruch hutton, 2003)

Masters’ HousesDessau / germany(walter gropius, 1925–26)Villa Roserskara / sweden(wingårdhs, 2005)

Dessau-Törten EstateDessau / germany(walter gropius, 1926–28)Solar EstateFreiburg / germany(Rolf Disch – Büro für solararchitektur, 2002)

Steel HouseDessau / germany(georg Muche and Richard Paulick,1926–27)Casa M-LidiaMontagut / spain(RcR aranda Pigem Vilalta arquitectes,2003)

Apartment House Weissenhof Estatestuttgart / germany(Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, 1927)Guldbergsgade & Nørre Allé Housescopenhagen / Denmark(ingvartsen arkitekter, 2002)

Employment OfficeDessau / germany(walter gropius, 1927–29)Employment OfficeReutte / austria(hanno Vogl-Fernheim, 2006)

German Trade Union SchoolBernau / germany(hannes Meyer, 1928–30)Zurich International Schoolwädenswil/Zurich / switzerland(galli & Rudolf architekten, 2002)

Balcony Access HousesDessau / germany(hannes Meyer, 1929–30)Student Housinggarching/Munich / germany(Fink+Jocher, 2005)

German PavilionBarcelona / spain(Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, 1929)Skywood HouseDenham / uK(graham Phillips, 2000)

Villa TugendhatBrno / czech Republic(Ludwig Mies van der Rohe 1930)House R128stuttgart / germany(werner sobek, 2001)

Projects showcased in Bauhaus twenty-21

“For the american photographer gordon watkinson, the architecture of the Bauhaus masters walter gropius, Mies van der Rohe, hannes Meyer, georg Muche and Richard Paulick are works of art, which he has portrayed with discerning reverence. [...] in the DaM in Frankfurt, this photographic dialogue is played out in a landscape of room-high planes that evoke the modernist ideal of flowing space. the exhibition illustrates just how much the appearance and inventiveness of architecture is linked to developments in society.”

Radio Bayern 2 (germany)

Above: House R128, Stuttgart,Germany (2001)


Foto+synthesis offers the following educational opportunities with gordon watkinson alongside the exhibition:

Telling a Story: Photography & Architecture2 day-workshop for middle and high school students

Participants learn how to use a series of photographs to illustrate a personal vision while developing an awareness of the local built environment as well as the architectural heritage of their surroundings.

Anatomy of a Photo Project1 day-seminar for university photography & art students, and/or general audience

Participants learn how to develop a photographic project, from conception through planning for its realization in book or/and exhibition form.

Guided ToursGuided tours of the exhibition with photographer Gordon Watkinson for a wide audience.

a companion publication is available:

gordon watkinson

Bauhaus twenty-21An Ongoing Legacy

with essays by Falk Jaeger and Peter cachola schmal, as well as contributions by Michael siebenbrodt and twelve prominent architects140 duotone photographs and 60 line drawings240 x 290 mm9 3/8 x 11 3/8 inches232 pageshardback2009, Birkhäuser, Basel . Boston . Berlin

isBn 978-3-0346-0054-5(english edition)isBn 978-3-0346-0055-2(german edition)

“watkinson succeeds not only in unveiling traces of the Bauhaus in contemporary architecture; his photographs bring buildings to life as real tangible experiences.”

sarah elsing, Frankfurter allgemeine Zeitung (germany)


Bauhaus twenty-21: An Ongoing Legacy – Photographs by Gordon Watkinson is organized by Foto+synthesis. the exhibition is presented under the Patronage of unescO. it has been made possible through the kind support of the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of germany, the goethe-institut, alien skin software, canson, Knoll, Picto, and tecnolumen.

Foto+synthesis

Foto+synthesis is a traveling exhibition service that focuses on work created by contemporary artists who use photography as their primary medium. Foto+synthesis’ main partners are museums and further non-commercial cultural institutions in north & south america, europe and asia. Foto+synthesis works directly with the artists to develop museum-ready exhibitions as well as educational programming such as guided tours, lectures, and workshops.

For an overview of Foto+synthesis’ program of exhibitions, please visit our website www.fotosynthesis.com.

contact

For further information, press images, interview requests, please contact:

alexandra Le FaouFoto+synthesis

t +1 646 233 3621s fotosynthesise [email protected]


all photographs© 2009 gordon watkinson

Above: Bauhaus Building, Dessau, Germany (1925-26)


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