The research project "Artistic Biographies at and around the Academy and School of Applied Arts in Munich, 1918-1955" is the identification and research of students and teachers at the Academy of Fine Arts and the School of Applied Arts in Munich who were persecuted under National Socialism during the period under investigation, as well as persecuted artists from their milieu. In addition, a critical institutional history examines the role of the academy.
The Munich Art Academy's self-image in local and global research exchange requires a critical examination of its history. The research project will shed light on key historical questions. From an artistic and research perspective, it will examine the lives of those who were excluded, persecuted and murdered as a result of the early Gleichschaltung (enforced conformity) of the Munich Academy. The research project aims to shift the focus away from the well-known victims and the well-documented Nazi art policy to those whose history has been sparsely recorded.
The research will be accompanied by courses that make the research content accessible to students and enable them to engage with questions of artistic-scientific research, the history of their own institution, and the development of suitable exhibition and communication formats.
Regular public events will provide information about the progress of the project and contribute to the in-depth exploration of individual aspects.
The research project ‘Artistic Biographies at and around the Academy and School of Applied Arts in Munich, 1918-1955’ is a collaboration between the Academy of Fine Arts Munich and the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich.
At the Academy, it is based at the Chair of Philosophy | Aesthetic Theory and has existed since November 2023.
Persons
Beo Tomek | Artistic-scientific assistant at the Chair of Philosophy | Aesthetic Theory, research project ‘Artistic Biographies at and around the Academy and School of Applied Arts in Munich, 1918-1955’
Leon Zmelty | Research assistant HMTM