From 26 September to 24 November 2019, the exhibition "SOS Brutalismus - Rettet die Betonmonster" (SOS Brutalism - Save the Concrete Monsters) can be seen at the Musisches Zentrum der Ruhr-Universität Bochum. The exhibition by the German Architecture Museum and the Wüstenrot Foundation will be shown as part of the #SOSBrutalism rescue campaign launched in 2015.

For the first time, the brutalist architecture of the 1950s to 1970s will be exhibited in a worldwide overview. The term brutalism does not refer to the word "brutal", but to "béton brut", the French term for exposed concrete. Brutalist architecture celebrates the raw, the naked construction. The often spectacularly expressive buildings were created in a time of experimentation and social upheaval. Today, many are threatened with demolition. The exhibition presents many new discoveries in unusually large models and concrete castings, including buildings from Japan, Brazil, the former Yugoslavia, Israel and Great Britain, where the New Brutalism was invented by Alison and Peter Smithson.

At the same time, the exhibition "RUB: brutally beautiful?", which was developed by students of the Art History Institute under the direction of Prof. Dr. Cornelia Jöchner, will be launched. It will be on display in the reading room of the University Library from 26 September to 31 October 2019. 

The RUB architecture was to a large extent part of this worldwide architectural trend of New Brutalism. The exhibition is intended to make clear the demands and goals associated with these designs. Its results also attempt to intervene in the current plans for the demolition of institute buildings.

The opening of both exhibitions will take place on Wednesday, 25 September 2019.

Program: 

5.30 PM
Exhibition "RUB: brutally beautiful?", compiled by students of the Institute of Art History under the direction of Prof. Dr. Cornelia Jöchner, University Library, ground floor, welcome by the Directorate of the University Library

7 PM
Opening of the exhibition "SOS Brutalismus", welcome by the chancellor of the RUB, Dr. Christina Reinhardt, and DAM curator Oliver Elser, Musisches Zentrum der RU