Education, commissioned art, aesthetic will?

The GDR art collection at Humboldt-Universität

Popup-Banner Wandgemälde "Deutschland einig Vaterland" (ca. 1949-51) aus dem Hörsaal 208 des Instituts für Bibliotheks- und Informationswissenschaft der HU für die DDR-Ausstellung – Popup-Banner Wandgemälde "Deutschland einig Vaterland" (ca. 1949-51) aus dem Hörsaal 208 des Instituts für Bibliotheks- und Informationswissenschaft der HU für die DDR-Ausstellung

Humboldt-Universität has a rich collection of valuable art treasures. The collection also contains many works from the GDR era, on whose soil the HU stood from 1949 to 1990. In many cases, however, their origin and provenance is unclear. In the summer semester of 2024, students took part in a course on art from the GDR era. They researched object histories in archives and expert discussions, looked at the building history of the HU and researched art teaching at the university.

The results of the student research project can be visited in the Humboldt Lab from 14 to 27 October. The intervention Education, commissioned art, aesthetic will? The GDR art collection at the HU shows numerous original objects and some reproductions. These include commissioned works such as portraits of the Humboldt brothers; works inspired by socialist ideas such as Heinrich Tessmer’s triptych Stations; a wall painting from the early phase of the GDR, which came to light a few years ago behind wooden panelling; and student works from art education from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Curation and realisation: Bastian Herbst, Dr Christina Kuhli

Research and texts: Deborah-Estelle Barczewski, Lili Milla Böhme, Elena Dietrich, Luise Gottschalk, Anna Leonie Grimm, Olesja Haag, Chris Herrmann, Anatoli-Maria Kalantzi, Nina Kehr, Marte Küster, Lukas Laucke, Carnival Lommatzsch, Lena-Sophie Meiling, Yannick Prager, Stefan Sgrai

Design: Julia Neller

- free admission

- Seminar room behind the Humboldt Lab

- 14 years and older

- German1st Floor

- Opening hours: Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun: 10:30 am – 6:30 pm; Tue: closed

Runtime: Mon, 14/10/2024 to Sun, 27/10/2024

Price info: Admission & Tickets

The Humboldt Forum is an open house and many exhibitions and events are free of charge. Please check the programme section for information on the respective admission options. There are currently no reductions for guided tours and group offers.

Please book a timed ticket online in advance to visit the following exhibitions: Berlin Global, After Nature.

Price: €0.00

Reduced price: €0.00

Takes place here:

• Humboldt Forum