Time is on my Side

The Art of the 1970s in Upper Swabia

The exhibition focuses on artistic creations from the 1970s in the Upper Swabia region. It highlights innovation and individuality, while also illustrating general trends.

Contemporary artistic concerns were often expressed through differentiation. Pop art, for instance, led to a new style of figuration, using bright colors to suggest modernity and youthfulness. At the same time, however, artists deliberately rejected the appeal of color, criticizing its use in advertising. Some broadened the definition of what could be considered art by using new materials such as polyester and acrylic glass. Others sought out materials that were already decaying, such as sheet metal, driftwood and textile waste. There were reflective surfaces here and discarded items there. Some artists turned to optical phenomena, sometimes aided by psychedelic substances. Others formulated their ideas coolly and with precision.

At the academies, the spirit of 1968 gave rise to a style of critical realism. However, in regions without art schools, this movement did not gain traction. In Upper Swabia, which was far removed from the academies, political statements were rare. Here, people were under less pressure to be »contemporary«; many simply did their own thing. Nevertheless, many works have a critical impulse – people did not want to conform to prevailing aesthetic or moral expectations.

The exhibition is divided into four sections: The »no longer beautiful« arts / Elegance of geometry / Joyful morality / Between abstract and concrete. It also refers to Upper Swabia’s contribution to the 1972 Munich Olympics.

A catalogue accompanies the exhibition. This is the seventh volume in the »20th Century Art of Upper Swabia« series, which is published by the Upper Swabia Society.