University News Last updated 30 January 2019
Birmingham students have marked 100 years since the formation of the iconic Bauhaus art school by creating a life-size exhibition inspired by the movement, crafted entirely from paper and cardboard.
Students on Birmingham City University’s Design for Performance degree course have created the new installation which draws upon the work of Oskar Schlemmer, the German painter, sculptor, designer and choreographer who trained at the school.
Working around the clock for 15 days, the students used 1.8km of brown paper to produce the tribute which features full-scale replicas of characters from the Triadic Ballet and stories from the acclaimed institution.
The project, which is now on display to the public at the University’s Parkside Building, also features a life-size replica of Schlemmer sat at his desk in a throwback to his time at the school.
Schlemmer was famed for his study of the body’s movement and designing costumes which restricted how performers move in the creation of dance.
The Bauhaus art school opened in Weimar, Germany in 1919 following Germany’s defeat in the First World War and was closed in 1933 under pressure from the Nazi regime.
The school, which has a name which literally translates to ‘building house’, is renowned as the most influential of its kind and has been credited with being the forerunner to modern architecture and design. Known for its elegant and minimalist style, the Bauhaus aesthetic remains celebrated today despite now being in its centenary year.
Student Millie Watson, who took part in the creation of the project, said: “The walls are the main feature of the exhibition and this was based on the work of one of the most famous people from the Bauhaus, Anni Albers. She was a weaver so the point of the walls was to create a feature that looked as though each piece has been woven together.
“We’ve incorporated a few key features and stories from the Bauhaus into the objects around the exhibition. So you have the presents falling, links to the eccentric parties and kite festivals the school held, as well as Oskar Schlemmer being the central figure, given his role in leading the Bauhaus.
“We’ve been working every single day 9am until 12 at night and I’m very much looking forward to going to bed tonight.”
Events across the globe have been pulled together to celebrate the centenary of the influential art school.
Birmingham City University, chose the subject for the installation to celebrate the collaborative, multi-disciplinary function of the school and how it reflects the practice needed for students on the Design for Performance course.
Hollie Wright, Lecturer in Design for Performance at Birmingham City University, who leads the module, said: “We chose to focus the exhibition on the Bauhaus art school to celebrate its longstanding influence even 100 years after it opened.
“That the students have an opportunity to produce such complex and detailed content just a few months into their university careers is designed to make sure they are prepared for life in the industry, but is also a testament to their own dedication to the course.”
The University’s Design for Performance degree is one of the longest running theatre design courses in the country spanning over 50 years.
Graduates from the course have gone on to work for major organisations like the Royal Shakespeare Company, LEGOLAND, International Opera and on Kylie Minogue’s latest tour.
More information on the course can be found on the University’s website or by visiting its Open Day on Saturday 23 March.
