'Haut, Stein' - traveling outdoor exhibition

‘Haut, Stein’ interrogates the persistence, use and obliteration of national socialist symbology, which remains visible to this day. In this outdoor exhibition, Jakob Ganslmeier brings together two distinct elements: the structural ornaments and architecture through which the symbols of national socialism linger in public space; and the tattoos, by which the same signs serve to reaffirm an individual’s commitment to right-wing extremism.

K&H is responsible for the spatial concept, design and realization of ‘Haut, Stein’ as a traveling outdoor exhibition, which was initiated by the Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora Memorials Foundation. The first venue opened in Weimar on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the liberation of the Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora-concentration camps and was realized in cooperation with Exit-Deutschland. The exhibition then traveled to Nordhausen and will travel further to new venues in 2022.

The project forms a very relevant contemporary visual document, both historically and in the political context of the here and now. Therefore, placing ‘Haut, Stein’ as a spatial installation in public space comes with a big responsibility. Due to the weight and complexity of the subject, it is vital that the narrative prevails to avoid single images becoming isolated visual landmarks.

We developed a design that narrates the project step-by-step. By creating an in- and exterior within the installation, the project unravels itself as the visitors get closer. The installation consists of three modules. The exterior of each module shows the monochrome diptychs of the ‘Stein’ part of the work. The proportions of the exterior frame and panels are 1:1 based on the ratio cut of the photography. Each L-shaped element contains a portrait and landscape sized frame to house each diptych. By placing these images in a large format on the outside of the construction, this part of the project is the first to be encountered. Furthermore, this placement makes the images function as a mirror of the surrounding public space.

The interior of each module is colored dark grey to provide for a noticeable contrast with the outside. Placing a durable dark grey flooring further emphasizes this notion. The interior part of the modules houses the color portraits from the ‘Haut’ selection. The portraits are placed in floating steel frames that are specifically placed to make sure the most confronting images are the ones least visible from the outside.

The custom-designed steel-built modules don’t need to be fixed to the location floor and are easy to store, transport and assemble on location. To provide for sufficient wind-ballast, simple stacks of secured concrete tiles are connected to the steel construction. Two of these provide a modest information panel in each module. Finally, the structure and placement of the elements is both open and spacious enough to function under Covid-19 measures.