When is the exhibition open?

The exhibition runs until 17.05.2026. The HfG Archive is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. Closed on Mondays.

Are there guided tours or educational programs?

Educational offerings take place regularly. Group tours and programs can be requested and booked in advance through the Museum Ulm.

How much does admission cost?

Admission to the HfG Archive usually costs €5, reduced €4. Children and teenagers up to 18 years free. Admission is free on the first Friday of the month.

How do I reach the HfG Archive by public transport?

From downtown Ulm City Hall, take a bus or tram to Kuhberg School Center, then continue by bus to Oberer Kuhberg, followed by a short walk to HfG Archive at Hochsträß 8.

Is the exhibition accessible for people with disabilities?

Accessible access is possible via the upper entrance. Follow the paved road left around the building past the guardhouse.

Am I allowed to take photographs?

Photography is generally allowed without flash and tripod in the exhibition area with restrictions. Please follow onsite instructions and instructions from the supervising staff.

Experience Cinematic Reality: Ulm's HfG Archive Shows Hörmann's Strong Images

Name: Special Exhibition Departure into Reality: Films by Günther Hörmann – 60 Years Institute for Film Design at HfG Ulm
Start: 2026-03-27T12:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-05-17T19:00:00+02:00
Location: HfG-Archiv Ulm

Departure into Reality: Film History from Ulm – intense, political, close to reality

At the HfG Archive Ulm, the special exhibition 'Departure into Reality: Films by Günther Hörmann – 60 Years Institute for Film Design at HfG Ulm' unfolds a rare artistic experience: Original films, working materials, and contextual documents bring to life the examination of a cinematic oeuvre that accurately depicts social reality, working worlds, and democratic culture.

Visual Language of Reality: Light, Material, Montage

In calm black-and-white tones, contrasting light, and precise montage, the showcased works create a special exhibition atmosphere. Close-ups of hands, machines, and faces, projected in large format, draw attention to rhythm, corporeality, and material. The curation leads through thematic spaces, where painting, sculpture, and installation of industrial culture are filmically paraphrased: Moving images as visual research.

HfG Ulm and the Film Department: A School of Attitude

Founded in 1962, the Film Department of the Ulm University of Design is regarded as a laboratory of the New German Film. Under Alexander Kluge, Edgar Reitz, and Detten Schleiermacher, study films, reports, and essayistic forms were created – always with societal relevance. The exhibition contextually positions these works art-historically between post-war modernity, documentary film, and political aesthetics, showing how design and ethos merge into a clear visual language.

Günther Hörmann: Biography, Themes, Impact

Günther Hörmann, HfG graduate and later member of the management board of the Institute for Film Design, repeatedly dedicated himself to themes of the working world, the trade union movement, and regional history. Films about strikes, shipyards, and structural change show precise observation, respectful closeness to protagonists, and a differentiated, montage-aware narrative style. The result: an aesthetic experience with documentary accuracy.

Guided Tours, Context, Education

The exhibition frames the works with insights into production contexts, archival work, and the design history of HfG. Educational offerings connect film aesthetics, industrial history, and media literacy. Visitors gain a clear understanding of how curation structures the spatial effect of projections and how source criticism, work comparison, and contextualization deepen the viewing experience.

Visitor Feedback

The reactions from visitors are clear: The exhibition excites and inspires. On Instagram, an art lover writes: 'Concentrated images, strong voices – I have never been so close to film history.' A visitor adds: 'The exhibition shows how design takes responsibility – impressive and timeless.'

Conclusion: For those who want to experience film art as societal practice, this offers dense work examination, clear curation, and a vibrant archive. A must for anyone who wants to experience visual language, design, and contemporary history in an authentic place.