Bauhaus Anniversary Celebration Kicks Off in Dessau
The city of Dessau, Germany, is set to celebrate a double jubilee this year, marking 100 years since the arrival of the Bauhaus art school in 1925 and the opening of its iconic building in 1926.
Barbara Steiner, Director of the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation, highlighted the opportunity that the city offered the Bauhauslers to "literally materialize" their ideas and concepts after the move. This innovative spirit continues to inspire today, as the school's influence radiates worldwide from Weimar, Dessau, and Berlin.
The celebrations, themed "Back to Basics," will include a series of exhibitions, artistic programs, conferences, and festivals. Reiner Haseloff, Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt, emphasized the importance of cherishing the Bauhaus like a precious gem, stating that questioning its legacy is equivalent to questioning today's Saxony-Anhalt.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, delivered a video message to kick off the jubilee, underscoring the school's enduring impact. Haseloff also stressed the importance of always having room for experiments and art, responding to criticism from the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt about the Bauhaus and its handling.
Iconic works from the time of the Bauhauslers will be showcased in the coming months, with their production process and materials placed in the context of the climate crisis and resource scarcity. The Bauhauslers designed furniture, lighting, jewelry, and everyday objects, leaving a lasting impact on modern design.
The Bauhaus building in Dessau, including the Zeeck department store, will be made accessible to the public during the celebrations. The school moved from Weimar, Thuringia, to Dessau in 1925, and although it moved to Berlin in 1932 and was closed by the Nazis in 1933, its legacy lives on.
The celebration will also feature song, dance, and performance, reflecting the multidisciplinary approach of the Bauhaus. Barbara Steiner, an Austrian art historian and author who has served as director and board member of the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation since 2021, has curated exhibitions since the 1990s and held leadership roles at contemporary art institutions and universities in Leipzig, Graz, Copenhagen, and elsewhere.
As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of Bauhaus in Dessau, it serves as a reminder of the school's groundbreaking contributions to art, design, and architecture, and its continued relevance in today's world.
