Public relations, marketing, and monumental heritage : architecture-related artworks in Dessau / Prof. Dr.-Ing. Natascha Meuser (Anhalt University of Applied Sciences/Dessau) with contributions from Martin Maleschka and Thomáš Pospszyl

Abstract

The course at the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences was held during the Winter Semester of 2017/2018. It was conducted with the assistance of the Regional Archive of Saxony-Anhalt, Dessau Department; the Municipal Archive of Dessau-Roßlau and the library of the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation

Less than 30 years after the dissolution of the GDR, icons of socialist architecture have become firmly established within architectural historiography. Colourful murals, façade reliefs, sculptures and other artistic design features have occasionally been delineated in anthologies. However, any detailed mapping has been absent until now. The objective of the seminar was to produce a guide that chronicles the value and meaning of artworks created for public spaces in Dessau. The task here was to offer details as well as background information on each artist – and work of art – in a readily accessible form.