Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Exhibition : Sammeln, Sammeln, Sammeln

In the German Ruhr area lies the city of Bochum. The city's Kunstmuseum has set up an exhibition titled "Sammeln, Sammeln, Sammeln". The project was realized in cooperation with the Protestant University of Applied Sciences Rhineland-Westphalia-Lippe (Evangelische Hochschule Rheinland-Westfalen-Lippe).



In the Bauhaus style (1920-1930s) "form followed function" :
tight lines and simple forms were the characteristic elements. 
The style concentrated on the new materials of glass, steel, concrete and bricks. 
Detail from one of the historic securities on display in the exhibition.
Courtesy J. Weritz


The German word sammeln means to collect. People collect objects for aesthetic reasons or because of cultural and historical glamor. Some are attracted to collecting on pure scientific grounds. Collections learn us, even as mere spectators, who we were and who we are now.

Earlier this year the Kunstmuseum called upon citizens from Bochum and surroundings to make their collections available. An announcement was placed in the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, a leading German newspaper from Essen. In no time about fifty collectors applied for participating in the event. The result is a collection of collections. On display are Stephen King collectibles, Toothpicks, Snow globes, Toast makers, Death masks, Empress Sissi memorabilia, Pinball Machine Backglasses, and much more.



In 1927 the city of Frankfurt A.M. founded with the Preußischen Elektrizitäts AG (Prussian Electricity Co) the Braunkohlen-Schwel-Kraftwerk Hessen-Frankfurt AG (Hessen-Frankfurt Brown Coal Power and Refining Co). Its 1928 1000 Reichsmark share is designed in Bauhaus style. 
Courtesy J. Weritz


Is there any scripophily represented in the Kunstmuseum ? Sure. One of Bochum's citizens lended his collection of bonds and shares. About 40 artistically designed securities are our eye-catchers here. Themes included : Afrika, Jugendstil, Art Deco, Bauhaus, Germany, Automobiles, Greece, USA, Eastern Europe and Breweries from Bochum.



Sammeln, Sammeln, Sammeln lasts through 5 February 2017.
Click to enlarge the invitation.


Practical info :
  • Bochum's Kunstmuseum
  • The Sammeln, Sammeln, Sammeln exhibtion 
  • Duration : 25 November 2016 - 5 February 2017
  • Location : Kortumstraße 147, Bochum, GERMANY 
  • Opening hours : Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00, Wednesday from 10:00 to 20:00 , closed on public holidays 
  • Entrance : €5, free for children and students 
Related link
F.L.

P.S. Thanks to Jürgen Weritz who brought the event under my attention. More about Mr. Weritz's project, see here .