Schöner Feiern ohne Punks
In 2020, for the Bauhaus Dessau centenary, students of the illustration class were invited—under the direction of Prof. Georg Barber, Tobias Jakob, and Torsten Blume—to design banners for construction fences on the Bauhaus grounds. One project focused on the history of Leftist groups at the Bauhaus, prompted by the cancellation of the “Feine Sahne Fischfilet” concert.
The stated reason for the cancellation concerns about right-wing protests echoed dynamics of the 1920s and 1930s, when the Bauhaus increasingly depoliticized itself and adapted to social and political pressures. This stood in contrast to the school’s early ideals of freedom, creativity, and social responsibility. Avoiding political controversy today risks obscuring the Bauhaus’s progressive and radical heritage.
By using red flags and other Leftist-related symbols, the work draws attention to this largely overlooked history and the revolutionary spirit that once shaped the institution. In a time of rising reactionary movements, revisiting this progressive legacy—and acknowledging the persecution of politically dissenting Bauhaus members under National Socialism—remains essential.
Foto: Tobias Jakob
