Beginning and end of a utopia – two installations from the “Startsignals” series have been facing each other at the Oberschleissheim rowing regatta facility since this summer: “Ohne Titel” by Thomas Mayfried and “5.9.72 – today no program” by Fanti Baum & Sebastian Klawiter.

In 1967, designer Otl Aicher and his team, Department XI of the Munich Olympiad Organizing Committee, presented design guidelines for the visual appearance of the 1972 Games. A light blue ring binder with a few pages full of example rules formulated the stringent creative framework for the colorful games. Thomas Mayfried and the wind from the south-west deconstruct the graphic elements from the 1967 handbook — a look into the machine room of the design and an attempt at the relationship between conception and reception. The installation “Ohne Titel” in the historical infrastructure of the 38 flagpoles is located directly opposite the main grandstand.

The neon work “5.9.72 – today no program” can be seen there: the date marks a radical break. The assassination attempt on the Israeli team marked a sudden turning point in the Olympic Games and the utopia of a cheerful get-together. At the moment of the almost incomprehensible event, the artists Peter Mell, Hans Poppel and Uwe Streifeneder produced a screen print that was the last sign of the cultural program taking place for the first time the so-called “Spielstraße” should be – today no program – 5.9.72. The work of Fanti Baum & Sebastian Klawiter has stopped time to commemorate the victims of the assassination.

On Saturday, December 10, 2022 at 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., a joint event will take place at the regatta grounds. In addition to Thomas Mayfried and Sebastian Klawiter, Karsten de Riese, contemporary witness and official NOK photographer at the time, will speak as a special guest and present his view of the Olympics.

Regatta Course Oberschleißheim, Dachauer Str. 35
Meeting point: Canteen, Munich Rowing and Canoeing Training Center
Free entry.