"I Was a Can!" at the Städtisches Museum Braunschweig
Date and Time
Location
About this Event
Mood
Venue Type
When the Historical Can Becomes Contemporary Art
The exhibition "I Was a Can!" at the Städtisches Museum Braunschweig connects the craft tradition of the Stobwasser lacquer factory with current positions of young artists. From October 9 to November 15, 2026, new perspectives on a Braunschweiger success story, whose traces go back to the 18th century, will emerge at Haus am Löwenwall.
Historical Craftsmanship Meets the Present
At the center is the Braunschweig lacquer factory Stobwasser, founded in 1763, which gained regional significance with artistically painted cans, cases, tabletops, and other lacquer works. The historical products made from papier-mâché, wood, and other materials combined precise craftsmanship with decorative painting, glossy surfaces, and a pronounced closeness to courtly and bourgeois culture.
The exhibition not only views this tradition as a museum heritage. Students engage with the forms, functions, and meanings of historical lacquer cans and translate them into contemporary artworks. Thus, the small utility item becomes a starting point for questions about memory, value, luxury, materiality, and cultural identity.
Form, Shine, and Materiality
The aesthetic experience of the exhibition arises from the dialogue between historical models and new artistic works. Round and oval can shapes, lacquered surfaces, ornamental details, and the characteristic depth effect of glossy surfaces refer to the high technical and design quality of Stobwasser production.
The examination of the works directs attention to the relationship between surface and content: A can preserves, conceals, embellishes, and tells a story. In contemporary engagement, this object becomes a medium for installation, sculpture, design, and conceptual art. Materials and forms come to the fore, as do the historical production conditions and the social significance of luxury goods.
Historical Context of Braunschweig Lacquer Art
Stobwasser exemplifies the connection between manufacturing, decorative arts, and economic history in the 18th century. The lacquer art developed in Braunschweig benefited from the support of Duke Carl I and achieved a reputation that reached well beyond the region through innovative production and marketing strategies.
The Städtisches Museum Braunschweig preserves significant collections related to regional art and cultural history. These include furniture, faience, silver works, Fürstenberg porcelain, and lacquer works from the Stobwasser factory. The exhibition expands this historical context with the perspective of cultural education and shows how contemporary art productively engages with a material heritage.
An Artistic Experience Between Museum and Experiment
Visitors can expect an exhibition atmosphere where historical forms, contemporary ideas, and the sensory impact of materials meet. The presentation invites close observation: of color contrasts, lacquer shine, traces of craftsmanship, spatial relationships, and the surprising transformation of a seemingly small object into a complex cultural sign.
This connection between art historical classification, student research, and experimental design makes "I Was a Can!" an exhibition for all those interested in craftsmanship, design, material aesthetics, and contemporary art.
Conclusion: A Historical Form Begins to Speak Anew
"I Was a Can!" shows how vibrant museum collections become when artists do not merely observe historical objects but question them anew. The exhibition project promises an inspiring artistic experience between Braunschweig's city history, lacquer art, and the present. Anyone wishing to experience the aesthetic experience of material, form, and memory firsthand should definitely visit the exhibition at Haus am Löwenwall.
Official Channels of Städtisches Museum Braunschweig:
- Instagram: no official profile found
- Facebook: no official profile found
- YouTube: no official profile found
- Website: no official profile found
