European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 3, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Art meets life in Darmstadt s Mathild Enohe by de Reavis staff reporter shortly before the turn of the Century Art Nouveau began sweeping the Western world. One Center of the new Art was in a Section of Darmstadt Germany which today serves As a living Monument to the movement that for a while at least changed the Way the world looked. The new Art was known under such labels As modern style Liberty secessionist and in Germany Jugendstil. Rival Art centers were in London and Glasgow in Britain Paris and Nancy France Brussels Belgium Munich Germany Vienna and cities in Switzerland and Scandinavia. Some artists considered the movement the answer even the antidote to the Plush Art of the Belle epoch with its Over Laden baroque forms and ornamentation. The expressed goal of Jugendstil a Quot youth or new style a was to sweep away those complicated dust collecting frills and bring a breath of fresh air into Art it wanted to transform every aspect of our lives from architecture to the artefacts of everyday life. In so doing it leaned heavily on the japanese style of clearly defined forms and understatement. It allowed unadorned spaces to exist a explicitly delineated but uncluttered. The artists in Darmstadt typical of the Art Nouveau epoch weren t satisfied with creating works of Art for gallery Walls. They also wanted to transform All the tools of daily life into works of Art houses furniture clothes books and silverware. The Best artists a people like Henry Van Der Velde Peter Behrens and Joseph Olbrich a could build a House design a gown or make a silverware or China setting. The Darmstadt artists were fortunate in finding a supporter and financier in the grand Duke of Hessen Ernst Ludwig a favorite Nephew of England s Queen Victoria who often visited the Small town in Hessen. Ernst Ludwig excited by the new Art founded an artist Colony in 1899. He gave the 23 artists artisans architects the area called Mathild Enohe a a Hill on the Edge of the town. Perhaps the most influential person in the Colony was Olbrich a Multi talented artist and architect of the Hochzeit Sturm or wedding Tower on the Mathild Enohe. It is generally called the Quot five Mger Tower Quot because its Peak resembles a raised open hand. Olbrich built it in Honor of the grand Duke s marriage to Eleonore von Solms Hohe Solms Lich in 1905, Hanking one Side of the Tower is a grand exhibition Hall still used today by the City to house1 special shows. In front is a Park lined with rows of Cut plane Trees that cast a mystical Light on the Earth. Four tableau of naked South sea inhabitants similar to those in Paul Gauguin s paintings adorn Brief philosophical texts. To the right an Art Nouveau Pool in Blue tiles shimmers Mure the Small russian orthodox Houpei with its Golden Ali urns. A amps photos by Michael Abrams two statues stand guard Over the Ernst Ludwig Haus renowned for its grandiose portals. It houses an exhibit of works by the Darmstadt artist Colony. A Silver wine carafe and cups on display at the Jugendstil museum. Haus Behrens designed by Peter Behrens is one of the private residences on Mathild Enohe. Olbrich also built several of the houses hat Herder the grounds around the Central exhibition Hall. Among them is the Ernst Ludwig Haus which opened last year is a museum for works by the artist Colony. The museum holds the permanent exhibit of artefacts i mated he lire artists plus changing exhibits of modern design the museum at the Ernst Ludwig Haus is open 10 jj�?T1 14, lady through sunday. Admission Lor adults is 5 Marks civic mail Tlle a a admitted tree. Reduced prices Tor groups of to or11jrecrar in Ort n Darmstadt is m Centra Germany about 12 Miles Sou a autobahn 5. A museum Couch shows the simple lines of Ugen stif while the window behind accentuates the Art style s decorative aspects. The wedding Tower finished in 1908, has become a City Symbol. Stripes Magazine Manuan 3, 1992 january i 1992 strikes Magazine 13