The German Literature Archive (Deutsches Literaturarchiv – DLA), Marbach

Project Synopsis

2024 saw the 100th anniversary of Franz Kafka's death. By way of marking the occasion the three institutions with the world's largest Kafka holdings – the National Library of Israel, Oxford University Library, and the Marbach Literary Archive – joined forces to showcase the author. For the exhibition "Kafka's Echo" at the Marbach Literary Archive hundreds of exhibits by and about Kafka were brought into a coherent structure and didactically prepared to make them accessible and understandable to visitors. An important aspect in achieving this was exhibition furniture that was both well-thought-out and functional – a task as complex and seemingly comparable to Kafka's multifaceted and often impenetrable works. And a task awarded to Stuttgart design studio L2M3, whose scenographic concept was based around the use of USM vitrines and units. L2M3 formed a strong design team with Simon Busse Studio (Industrial Design, Stuttgart) and decided to bring in smow Stuttgart as experts in USM design.

Brief

Kafka's work repeatedly revolves around themes such as the absurdity of life, alienation, and the unfulfilled longing for recognition. His characters are symbols of the existential struggles of modern man. How can the complexity of such a literary giant be brought to life in an exhibition? This was precisely the challenge the Stuttgart-based interior design experts at smow faced when furnishing the exhibition. The goal was to reflect the Kafkaesque world, its profundity, and ambivalence in the design and layout of the exhibition. The furniture not only had to meet the strict museum requirements regarding safety and climate control, but also appropriately present Kafka's complex literary work. The external requirements were clear: It had to be quick, it had to be practical, and the project had to be implemented within a strict budget.

Realisation

After the initial meeting in February 2024 the USM experts from smow Stuttgart embarked on an intensive design process, encompassing the delivery and fine-tuning of the furnishings in a sprint of just ten weeks.

As in Kafka's works, where every decision has profound consequences, the practical implementation of the project proved complex and multifaceted. The high demands on security and precision made every step a special challenge – especially in light of Franz Kafka's international reputation and the 100th anniversary of his death. A key concern was to ensure both theft protection and access for staff and researchers during ongoing operations. Therefore, the USM display cases were equipped with special anti-theft mechanisms that simultaneously enabled rapid accessibility.

In addition, the furniture had to meet strict temperature, light, and humidity requirements for the exhibits. The lighting of the exhibits was limited to a maximum of 50 lux to prevent damage from light rays. Some particularly valuable pieces were presented in a cove, which smow Stuttgart implemented using satin-finished Plexiglas elements specially manufactured for the exhibition, based on the design plan by L2M3.

Another special, and equally Kafkaesque, element was the mirrored hall, designed according to the ideas of the exhibition planners at L2M3 with vitrine towers made of USM Haller modules. In collaboration with the Stuttgart-based company AD a multi-stage selection process was conducted to select a special mirror film that had to be applied with the utmost precision to more than 300 metal shelves. These mirrored surfaces not only reflected Kafka's parables but also contributed to the unique atmosphere in this part of the exhibition. The mirrored display case towers, which symbolically bring the exhibition title "Kafka's Echo" to life in the room, and the satin-finished Plexiglas elements that subtly guide the viewer's gaze, created an enigmatic, almost surreal exhibition atmosphere that literally brought Kafka's works to life.

The task was extreme, but exemplary teamwork by all involved ensured that the exhibition "Kafka's Echo" met the highest standards not only in terms of content but also in its presentation.

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