College Cups full of Silk Culture and Niederrheinische ALTernativen
Haus der Seidenkultur presents two new exhibitions in Südbahnhof

“College Cups full of Silk Culture and Niederrheinische ALTernativen”, are the titles of two new exhibitions which Haus der Seidenkultur (HdS) will be presenting from 25th October to 15th December in the Südbahnhof.

The College Cups full of Silk Culture were designed by prospective design students at the Hochschule Niederrhein as part of a project for HdS. The exhibition demonstrates the multifaceted thematic approach adopted by the students in tackling the assignment.

In one case it is silk, then the silk cocoon or the punch-card developed by Joseph-Marie Jacquard which inspired the students in their work. The individual design steps right up to the finished fired cup are shown using the initial conceptual designs and computer simulations. 

The three top designs will be presented with an award during the vernissage which will take place on 25th October at 20.00 hours in the Südbahnhof. “The winner’s cup will be produced for sale and will in future be one of the range of items available from the shop in the refurbished museum,” says HdS Chairman Hansgeorg Hauser.

The second exhibition activity is part of the Niederrheinischen ALTernativen. Here the focus is on the Krefeld artist and graphic designer Heinz von der Way (1888 - 1973). In the 1950s he designed numerous graphics and slogans for the German brewing industry, some of which are still used in present-day advertising. On show are the original designs, glasses, advertising placards made of enamel, beer mats and documents which demonstrate the advertising methods used by the graphic designers to make the decision to have a drink easier.

“Margot Wienges (landlady of the pub of the same name) and Frank Tichelkamp, general manager of the Königshof Brewery, lent other exhibits, for example, a bottle filling unit for Alt beer, barrels and nostalgic documents,” says curator Dieter Brenner referring to the rare exhibits. For example, a menu from the Gaststätte Vennemann which indicates that “Wirichs Lager” used to be on tap for 0.25 Reichsmark and that at the bar beer could also be had in a stein for 0.35 RM .

The exhibitions can be visited until 15.12.2013 on each first and third Sunday in the month from 11.00 to 16.00 hours and upon appointment - telephone 510812 – in the Krefeld Südbahnhof, Saumstraße 9.

Students from the Hochschule Niederrhein have shaped this cup handle like a silk scarf draped around the neck.

A map indicating typical beverages from the Lower Rhine area, drawn in the 1950s by the Krefeld graphic designer Heinz von der Wey.

A nostalgic beverage list from the one-time Gaststätte Vennemann

ALTe designs (relating to “Alt” beer) by the graphic designer Heinz von der Wey