Hans Wewerka – Ernst Barlach Foundation, Germany

encounters. Wewerka and Barlach
27.08.23 – 19.11.23

Figurative representations, which, thanks to their range of motifs, refer to different social milieus and basic human emotions, form the main subject of both the famous sculptor Ernst Barlach (1870-1938) and his student Hans Wewerka (1888-1915). Born in what is now the Czech Republic, Wewerka attended the ceramics technical school in Höhr in 1905 while Barlach worked there as a teacher. His teaching and work inspired Wewerka in his artistic work, so that Barlach, alongside the Dutchman Joseph Mendes da Costa (1863-1939) and the German Rudolf Bosselt (1871-1938), became an important stylistic role model for his young pupil. Between 1905 and 1914 fifty small-format stoneware sculptures were made by Wewerka, who tell in individual representations of his observations of everyday life and public life. The First World War ended the promising career of the young ceramist. Wewerka died in a field hospital in France at the age of 27.
The exhibition presents Wewerka’s works that have been handed down to the public for the first time and, based on selected works by Barlach, Bosselt and da Costa, allows the budding sculptor to understand their role model function in an impressive manner. In addition, Barlach’s situation before and after his brief teaching position in Höhr is examined and his work around 1904/05 is located in his oeuvre.

An expanded exhibition takeover of that FORUM DESIGNin Magdeburg and the WESTERWALD CERAMICS MUSEUM.

Curator: Franziska Hell, MA