Olydo Berlin 16: A collection of mixed media work commemorating the 1936 Olympic village site at Elstal
- Submitting institution
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The University of Bolton
- Unit of assessment
- 32 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
- Output identifier
- 0049_32_REF2_PL_02
- Type
- M - Exhibition
- Venue(s)
- Deutsche Kreditbank AG centre, Berlin; neo:gallery, Bolton
- Open access status
- -
- Month of first exhibition
- July
- Year of first exhibition
- 2016
- URL
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- Supplementary information
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- Request cross-referral to
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- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
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- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- No
- Number of additional authors
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3
- Research group(s)
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- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- Olydo Berlin 16 is a multi-component output supported by contextual information. The output comprises contributions of collage and ceramic work to two major exhibitions, two catalogues and a short film.
Contextual Information: The research engages with the material and ideological history of the site of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games at Elstal. Taking the viewer beyond the simplistic moral condemnation of the Nazi era, the aim of the Olydo Berlin 16 exhibition was to encourage dialogue about the complex social and political realities of 1930s Germany, and to open up a space for alternative, often contradicting narratives.
Peter Lewis was one of four artists who took part in a three day site visit in August and September 2015. Lewis became fascinated by the evidence of a constant reuse and redecorating of the interiors of the buildings, which communicated a proximity to the past and the transient nature of occupancy. He gathered considerable amounts of research materials at the site and incorporated them in to a range of ceramic and collage work to draw attention to the layered socio-political history of the location
The working methodology at times led to unexpected outcomes, as exemplified in Speisehaus der Nationen, where the resin used interacted with the images applied to it and distorted them. While still recognisable as a tea-pot it became an artefact open to different interpretations and related to the historic changes of the site in metaphoric terms. Lewis also used reconfigured commemorative items from the Games in 1936 such as the Olympic Bells to convey some of the more disturbing aspects of the site’s history.
The works were exhibited at the Deutsche Kreditbank AG centre, Berlin, 19th July- 26th August 2016, the Olympic village at Elstal 11th September 2016, and neo:gallery Bolton in 18th March and 30th April 2017.
- Author contribution statement
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- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
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