Extraordinary from the very first second - that's FC Bayern Munich. On February 27, 1900, 17 clever minds, both artistic and creative christened today's football record champions in the heart of Munich. Some were painters, sculptors or photographers who were part of the then world-famous Schwabing artistic and cultural life. What united them all was their love of football. The special exhibition "Between the Studio and the Pitch" takes visitors back to the founding years of FC Bayern - a time of social upheaval on and off the football pitch. The exhibition was opened to coincide with the club's 119th birthday.
It was by no means a coincidence that the club was founded at the same time as the Munich art scene was coming alive. One wanted to be innovative and self-determined, in all parts of social life. This is demonstrated by the works of Benno Elkan, Paul Francke, Wilhelm Focke and Otto Ludwig Naegele as well as founding initiator and photographer Franz John. For example, a bust of Karl Valentin can be seen alongside sketches, drawings and photographs. The well-known graphic "Die Rothosen" ["The Red Shorts"] by Sepp Mauder, whose creativity benefited the club for decades when he joined in 1903, already set the pattern for the club's current image at an early stage. The aim and central component of the exhibition is to uncover the close connection between art and football - between FC Bayern and the Akademie der Bildenden Künste [Academy of Fine Arts]. In the area of Schwabing, the Bavarians quickly made a name for themselves on and off the pitch.
How did the first president Franz John and the founding fathers live and work? Why and how did FC Bayern come into being? Installations, works of art as well as participatory and learning opportunities deal with the past as an "artists' club". For this reason, the "Café Gisela", the founding site of FC Bayern, has also been set up as an installation in the exhibition. A real highlight is the animated film, which showcases the founding of the club to visitors in a charming way. Until 31 March 2020, visitors to the club museum will walk via a historical city map on the streets of the past - in the truest sense of the word.
Smaller fans will also get value for money with their very own area. They can experiment with colours and shapes, in both digital and traditional ways. A frottage station with a classic lead pencil invites you to create just as much as a digital touch screen does. On 24 March, a family Sunday will take place together with the "Kinderkunsthaus" ["Children's Art House"]. The cooperation with the Academy of Fine Arts was also transferred to modern times. As part of a joint project, works by selected students will be shown as a contribution to the special exhibition in autumn 2019.
After "Goalkeeper, Inventor, Jack-of-all-trades" (2014), "Kaiser. Kalle. Bomber." (2015), "Professional Footballer: Dream and Reality" (2016) and "MOMENTS. Unique. Unforgettable" (2017/18), "Between the Studio and the Pitch" is the fifth large special exhibition to be staged in the FC Bayern club museum. For FC Bayern Museum ticket holders, the visit is included in the admission price.
