An exhibition by the artist Klaus Beilstein, which focuses on portraits of 15 members of the university, offers an unusual approach to the history of the university until 22 November.
The works of Oldenburg artist and long-time University lecturer Klaus Beilstein have their own room in the University Archives. They are stored there in special acid-free archive folders in the shallow drawers of the plan cabinets purchased especially for this purpose. "His works are the first and so far only closed art collection in the university archive," says its director Dr Gunnar B. Zimmermann. The first works came into the archive's possession in 2020: including 76 portraits of university members, 15 of which are now part of the multimedia exhibition "A chair tells university history - Klaus Beilstein's 'Uni heads' in the University Archives Oldenburg". Zimmermann and his team are not only exhibiting the "Uni Heads" in the anniversary year, but are also turning them into gateways to the extensive University Archives.
In the foyer of the University Library, the Uni Heads - including former University President Prof. Dr Michael Daxner, recreational sports visionary Prof. Dr Jürgen Dieckert and the University's first honorary doctor, music teacher and composer Gertrud Meyer-Denkmann - are not only displayed on plaques with personal details. At a digital table, visitors can use the faces and stories to immerse themselves in the University Archives and explore the traces left behind by the people portrayed through their actions, for example using photos, minutes or articles.
At the opening on Monday evening in the presence of the artist, various companions of Beilstein shed light on why his portraits in particular exert such a fascination on viewers. Whether chalk, oil, pencil or lithographic pencils: "He masters all drawing techniques at a high level, likes to combine several of them and plays with different styles like a juggler," analysed Dr Sabine Isensee from the Oldenburg City Museum. In doing so, he transforms reality, leaving out everything unimportant and allowing himself to be guided by the extraordinary attraction of engaging with something strange and new. "For him, a picture is successful when it succeeds in exposing something that is hidden behind the self-dramatisation," says Isensee. Beilstein's light, sweeping stroke occasionally drifts into caricature - but without ever being malicious.
Michael Daxner, who was portrayed by Beilstein several times during his twelve years as President, also reported on Beilstein's special eye - also called Klaus Bleistift by friends. "I sit with Klaus in his studio. I don't even try to take a look at his sheets. Klaus is always observing - he often sees more than he is drawing and he often sees something else when he looks at his model," said Daxner, taking the visitors back to one of the days when he sat as a model in the studio.
Daxner revealed that several works by Beilstein hang in his flat, including a double portrait of himself with the university's founding chancellor, Dr Jürgen Lüthje, with whom he had guided the fortunes of the university as a duo for several years. "The way Lüthje's and my character stand out still impresses me today."
In addition to Beilstein's artistic skill, the piece of furniture that gave the exhibition its name and is also on display in the library foyer may also have played a role in the authenticity of the portraits. According to Heidi Beilstein, the chair on which most of the portrait sitters modelled was not particularly comfortable in the long run, Gunnar B. Zimmermann revealed with a wink. "At some point, everyone had to loosen up and reveal something about themselves to Beilstein."
Presidents, students, employees: Beilstein created 76 portraits of university members alone and handed them over to the university four years ago, along with the event posters he designed. Almost 500 more portraits of non-university people followed last year. The contact between the former university lecturer and the University Archive team was established by Gerhard Harms, former press spokesman for the university and Beilstein's colleague. "We worked together for years. For example, caricatures by Klaus Beilstein used to appear regularly on the cover of UNI-INFO," says Harms. The contact lasted into retirement and when the subject of the artist's extensive work came up at a meeting, Harms suggested that it be given to the University Archives as a bequest. "Even during his work at the then young university, which still had to establish itself in the region, Beilstein was an artist that people knew and who also played a role in connecting the university to the city through his popularity," says Harms, explaining one aspect of the importance of Beilstein's work for the university.
The University Archives shared this assessment and created the necessary conditions to properly store the extensive collection - with more works to follow. In the long term, the works will also be loaned out for exhibitions. During the current exhibition, interested parties already have the opportunity to view the originals up close. For security reasons, only images of the drawing can be exhibited in the foyer. However, the University Archive team is offering guided tours of the originals. All dates can be found here.
