Often quoted, much researched and frequently misunderstood – even over 100 years after its foundation, the Bauhaus continues to inspire and move people. As a place for new ideas and design, for contradictions and contrasts, the legendary art school can still surprise us today. The podcast ‘about bauhaus’ from the Bauhaus-Archiv / Museum für Gestaltung scrutinises the familiar and discovers new things about the famous avant-garde school. With illustrious guests and academic expertise, podcast host and art historian Adriana Kapsreiter sheds new light on the history and relevance of the Bauhaus in the second season.
Image above: About bauhaus – the podcast of the Bauhaus-Archiv / Museum für Gestaltung
What was new about the Bauhaus?
The current series of ‘about bauhaus’ explores life at the famous school year by year, from its foundation in 1919 to its abrupt end in 1933, focussing on the question: What was actually new at the Bauhaus? Adriana Kapsreiter takes her guests to the historical sites in Weimar and Dessau and visits studios, theatres, museums and special places of the Weimar Republic. Musician Schorsch Kamerun, master carpenter Frank Wilhelm, fashion designer Esther Perbandt and politician Marina Weisband, among others, talk about their work and their relationship to the Bauhaus. The stories are accompanied by music created especially for this series by the band ‘Kubik Kollektiv’.
Current episodes
Episode 9
1927: Bauhaus soundscapes
Guest: Musicologist Kai Hinrich Müller
Numerous composers and musicians visited the Bauhaus, gave lectures and concerts, such as the famous Belá Bartók at the Bauhaus Dessau in 1927. They inspired the Bauhaus students – and were themselves inspired by the school. Adriana Kapsreiter talks about the role of music with musicologist Kai Hinrich Müller, who has been researching musical life at the Bauhaus for several years and is bringing the music of that time back to life today.
Episode 10
1928: The stuff (textile) dreams are made of
Guest: Fashion designer Esther Perbandt
It was one of the most successful workshops at the Bauhaus: the weaving workshop, also known as the textile workshop or ‘women’s department’, as it was primarily women who were trained here. Adriana Kapsreiter talks to Berlin fashion designer Esther Perbandt about the weavers and their work. How did the fabrics develop? Why was there still sexism at the Bauhaus despite all the modernity? And why was there never a separate fashion department at the school?
Episode 11
1929: Seifi Naki Halil Bey and the first Bauhaus diploma
Guest: Architect Nermin Günes
In 1929, the Turkish architecture student Seifi Naki Halil Bey was awarded the first Bauhaus diploma. He had begun his studies at the Bauhaus in 1926 and joined the newly founded building department in 1927. Together with Nermin Günes, who holds a doctorate in architecture and works in the bauhaus-shop, Adriana Kapsreiter researches the life story of the Turkish Bauhaus student and the architectural connections between Germany and Turkey.
Preview season 2
Episode 12 – Thu, 15.08.2024
1930: Political, all-political, guest: politician Marina Weisband
Episode 13 – Thu, 19.09.2024
1931: The new living between utopia and dystopia, guest: architectural psychologist Tanja Vollmer
Episode 14 – Thu, 17.10.2024
1932: The last year at the Bauhaus, guest: Annemarie Jaeggi, Director of the Bauhaus-Archiv / Museum für Gestaltung
An overview of all episodes of seasons 1 and 2 released so far can be found on Podigee.
‘about bauhaus’ can be heard on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Amazon Music and everywhere else where podcasts are available.
