What’s become of Otl Aicher’s former abode? A visit to the Allgäu.
10 × 10 × Aicher
Searching for traces: More than 30 years after Aichers death, his oeuvre will be remeasured. The small gallery of things displays furniture, photos, quotes and sketches. The unknown Aicher becomes visible.
10 × seeking
10 × structured
10 × sketched
10 × paused
10 × three-dimensional
10 × contrasts
10 × travelled
10 × portraits
10 × quoted
Otl Aicher in his parents’ garden (around 1948). Photographer unknown. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 1552 (01)
Otl Aicher with manuscript (1949). Photo: Annelise and Hannes Rosenberg. © HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ros 11 Abz 758-017.01
Otl Aicher with camera (1954). Photographer: Sigrid von Schweinitz. © HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Schw 3.053
Inge Aicher-Scholl and Otl Aicher during an excursion (1954). Photographer: Sigrid von Schweinitz. © HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Schw 3.223
Otl Aicher photographs himself in the mirror during a trip (probably 1950s). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai D 2_151
Otl Aicher (mid-1960s). Photographer unknown. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 0328 (1)
Exhibition stand Sonor, designed by Otl Aicher (1962). Photo: Christian Staub. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 1519 (09)
Otl Aicher in the office, design commission for the 1972 Summer Olympics (between 1968-1972). Photographer unknown. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai D 11940
Inge Aicher-Scholl and Otl Aicher during a sit-in in Mutlangen, Allgäu (1983). Photographer unknown. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai D 14567
Photo: Bayerische Staatsbibliothek München/Bildarchiv/Karsten de Riese
Poster “Religiöse Ansprachen über christliche Weltanschauung, 3. Abend” for the Ulmer Volkshochschule, here: “Romano Guardini on: the figure of the Saviour as myth and revelation” (1946). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G 11
Reprint of a lecture given at the Ulm Adult Education Centre. Eckart Peterich: Why do we love the Greeks and why do we study their history (1947). Design: Otl Aicher, Aegis Verlag Ulm. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai B 207
Calendar “Gärtchen in Schutt – ein Kalendarium für die Freunde der Ulmer Volkshochschule auf das Jahr 1948 von Friedrich Schnack” (1948). Illustrated by Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G 635
Drawing of a couch with rolling feet (between 1945-1950). Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G div posters gs2 schk9 (6)
Left: Abstract depiction of a backdrop of urban houses, possibly based on Ulm (between 1945-1950). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G div posters gs2 schk9 (3). Right: Abstract depiction of a bull in front of a black surface, awnings against a blue background (between 1945-1950). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G div posters gs2 schk9 (5)
Nude drawings in the style of Henri Matisse, signed “A” (late 1940s). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai P 642 possibly 647
Nude drawing in the style of Henri Matisse (late 1940s). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG-Archiv / Museum Ulm.HfG-Ar Ai G div Plakate gs2 schk9 (2)
Three graphic poster variants in grey-white-black for the Ulm Adult Education Centre, modulation of wavy lines (before 1950). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G 15, a, b, c
Left: Advertising poster for the Ulm Adult Education Centre “Neues Leben in der vh” (before 1950). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G 203. Right: Advertising poster for the Ulm Adult Education Centre “Ausgleich bringt Freude – Höre die Ulmer Volkshochschule” (before 1952). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G 16
Left: Poster for the series of Thursday lectures in September at the Ulm Adult Education Centre “Collective and Personality” (1947). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G 46. Right: Poster for the Ulm Adult Education Centre, lecture “Appeal to the Youth of Europe” by Eckart Peterich (ca. 1948). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G 25
Left: Detail of a wooden surface (around 1959). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 0413. Right: Detail of a fibrous wooden structure (around 1959). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 0545
Left: Cut tree trunks stored outdoors (before 1959?). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 1321. Right: View into the slightly hazy forest (before 1959?). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 0479
Left: Back part (Swabian: Füdle) of a zebra (before 1959?). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 1367. Right: Snowy landscape in the Swabian Alb (before 1959?). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 1314
Left: Reflection in puddles on the asphalt along an avenue (before 1959?). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 1465 (1). Right: Raindrops on a window, reflection of traffic lights and car headlights (before 1959?). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 1371
Left: Serpentines along a slope, possibly Italy (before 1959?). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 1454 (06). Right: Erosion gully in the rock floor (before 1959?). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 0867 (3)
Left: Stack of bundled wooden slats (before 1959?). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 0471. Right: pebbles (before 1959?). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 1350
Left: Strapped sausages, free-hanging (before 1959?). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 1453 (12). Right: Electricity pylon and lines against a slightly cloudy sky (before 1959?). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 1408
Left: Erosion furrows in a rock wall, possibly sandstone (before 1959?). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 0867. Right: Shingle roof (before 1959?). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 1325
Left: Willow cuttings in the snow (before 1959?). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 1502 (01). Right: Avenue with tree panel (before 1959?). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 1469 (02)
Left: Landscape made out of rubber tyres (o. J.). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai D o.S. (1). Right: Vehicles on the airfield (o. J.). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai D o.S. (7)
Drawn and described ski course for Aicher’s sister Hedwig (1940). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai AZ 625
Letter from Russia, Aicher to Grogo 15.8.1943: “… in these days it has been decided that I will become a sculptor …”, with sketch “Bruderhof”, sketch “Honzrath” letter 5.8.1942. Author: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai AZ 2930
Abstract pencil sketches of human bodies/parts (between 1945-1950). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai AZ 572
Pencil drawings from a trip to Italy (o. J.). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai AZ 578
Pencil sketches of advertisements for Modehaus Walz (1949). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai AZ 642
Pencil sketch, possibly a design for the celebrations of “1100 years Ulm” (between 1945-1954). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai AZ 648
FRG scribble, sketches for signet “Federal Republic of Germany” and letter draft (ca. 1970s). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai AZ 648
Pencil sketches Designs for SPD flags, European elections (ca. 1978). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai AZ 2931
Biros sketch certificate “Honorary citizenship of the autonomous republic of Rotis for Steffi (König) von Lüdenscheid” (zw. 1976-1985). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai AZ 660
Leporello sketches for brochure “Die Weiße Rose” (1990). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai AZ 736
Pillar of the Ulm Adult Education Centre plastered with holiday break posters and lettering “Frohe Festtage” / “Frohes Fest wünscht die vh” (between 1955-1960). Design: Otl Aicher, photographer unknown. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm
Break poster for the vh ulm: diagonal division of the squares (before 1960?). Design: Otl Aicher, photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G 161
Break poster for the vh ulm: circular rings in magenta, purple, blue and white (before 1960?). Design: Otl Aicher, photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G 169
Break poster for the vh ulm: eight squares in yellow, orange and brown tones, flat, chequered, lined (before 1960?). Design: Otl Aicher, photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G 160
Break poster for the vh ulm: two squares, each with a colour-divided circle in yellow, magenta, orange (before 1960?). Design: Otl Aicher, photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G 163
Break poster for the vh ulm: two squares, each with a colour-divided circle in yellow, magenta, orange (before 1960?). Design: Otl Aicher, photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G 163a
Break poster for the vh ulm: different division of a rectangle by colour (before 1960?). Design: Otl Aicher, photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G 159
Break poster for the vh ulm: two circles, each in black and white on a silver background (before 1960?). Design: Otl Aicher, photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G 166
Break poster for the vh ulm: 10×20 squares in shades of red and blue (before 1960?). Design: Otl Aicher, photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G 168
Break poster for the vh ulm: 9×4 squares diagonally divided in magenta, blue, white (before 1960?). Design: Otl Aicher, photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G 170
Wire furniture series (ca. 1980/81). Design: Otl Aicher, photo: Oleg Kuchar / prints Rotis office. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. Prints: HfG-Ar Ai P. 341 / stool HfG-Ar Ai So 018 a+b and HfG-Ar MS 270 a+b
Chair / seating group with table in a studio house of the HfG Ulm on the Ulm Kuhberg; wood and metal (ca. 1955). Design: Otl Aicher, photo: Ernst Hahn 1955 / Oleg Kuchar 2022. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. Photo Lecturers’ House: HfG-Ar Dp 090.44-011 / Chair HfG-Ar Ai So 019
Floor lamp (1950s). Designed by Otl Aicher, possibly made in the metal workshop of the HfG Ulm. Photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai So 020
Wooden relief Portrait of Pastor Weiß (o. J). Design: Otl Aicher. Photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai T 405
Paper flower on the occasion of the Easter march (1968). Design: Otl Aicher. Photographer unknown. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai D 14614
Wooden figures of athletes, design 1972 Summer Olympic Games, large figures exhibited in a park in Baden-Baden 1981 and today in front of the German Sport & Olympia Museum, Frankfurt (between 1970-1981). Design: Otl Aicher / Hans Neudecker. Photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai So 021.001-011
“Rote Minna”, single-axle tractor with covered wagon designed by Otl Aicher, manufactured by Aicher & Schmied, 1964
Poster pillar for the Ulm adult education centre (around 1953). Design: Otl Aicher. Photographer unknown. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 1199
Chess set (1960s). Design: Otl Aicher. Photographer unknown. © Florian Aicher, Rotis
Variations of the Olympic mascot “Waldi”, design for the 1972 Summer Olympics. design: Büro Aicher. Photo: HfG Archive. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai Ki 115
Exhibition poster “Kritik am Auto – Eine Designanalyse von Otl Aicher”, exhibition in the foyer of the BMW Haus in Munich 1985 (1984/85). Design: Otl Aicher. Photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai Br 080
Design of a signet for the University of Konstanz, used as letterhead (1981-83). Design: Aicher/Kapp. Photo: HfG Archive. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai P 408.22-30
Isny poster series: Posters Winter and Summer (1977-81). Design: Aicher, Bettrich, Schwarz, Kern. Photo: HfG Archive. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai D 3859+58
Rotis architecture (1980s). Design: Otl Aicher. Photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai Az 626
Poster “Easter March” (ca. 1968). Design: Otl Aicher. Photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G div posters gs6 schk6 u 10 (5a)
Pictograms. Design: Otl Aicher. Photo: Oleg Kuchar. © ERCO / Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai P. 82.02-06, 82.11-14
Brochure “Der obere Kuhberg – Ein Dokumentationszentrum über Nationalsozialismus und Widerstand in Ulm” (1981). Design: Otl Aicher. Photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai Br 484
Signet of the Ulm Adult Education Centre “vh”, head of the poster pillars in the city area until 1961 (1951-61). Design: Otl Aicher. Photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G 209
Poster of a photography exhibition by Otl Aicher “otl aicher hochschule für gestaltung ulm” (1969). Design: Otl Aicher. Photo: HfG Archive. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G 209
Graphic for the book “Die Küche zum Kochen” (1980-81). Design: Otl Aicher. Photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai Ki 84
Man pointing into the distance in front of the “Capela da Alvorada” of the “Palácio da Alvorada” in Brasília designed by Oscar Niemeyer (after 1958). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai D 2_219
Four people standing together, presumably on a trip to Brazil (1950s). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai D 2_103
A woman in front of the Ministry of Education and Health (today the Palace of Culture) in Rio de Janeiro designed by Oscar Niemeyer, Le Corbusier, Lucio Costa, Jorge Machado Moreira and Afonso Eduardo Reidy (ca. 1958-1965). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai D 2_078
Male persons with caps at the edge of a field, presumably extinguishing a fire (o. J.). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 0544
Three women dressed alike standing at a bar, probably Aicher’s trip to the USA (c. 1950s). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai D o. Si
Men standing at the roadside, some of them reading newspapers, probably Aicher’s trip to Brazil (ca. 1950s). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm.HfG-Ar Ai D 2_098
A woman dressed in red with a loose red headscarf, surrounded by males in suits, presumably Aicher’s trip to Brazil (ca. 1950s). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai D 2_102
France (before 1959). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai F 1621-049
A man and two children during an outdoor meal, Asia (1960s). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai D o. Si
Man and patterned fabric panels blowing in the wind, Asia (1960s). Photo: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai D o. Si
Portrait sketches of Inge Scholl (1945). Design: Otl Aicher. Photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai P 649.01
Person lying in the grass (ca. 1945-50). Design: Otl Aicher. Photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai P 649.12
Portrait of Romano Guardini (1945). Design: Otl Aicher. Photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai P 649.02
Portrait drawings by Manuel Aicher, Albert Unseld, Hans Carossa, Alice Herdan-Zuckmayer, Erika Wackernagel, Werner Bergengruen – selection of drawings, some of which were published in the vh ulm monthly magazine (ca. 1945-51). Design: Otl Aicher. Photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai Az 624
Aicher’s Cat (1991). Design: Otl Aicher. Photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai Az 576
Aicher draws Sir Norman Foster (1980s). Design: Otl Aicher. Photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai Az 579
Self-portrait sketches that served as a model for a bronze cast bust (1980s). Design: Otl Aicher. Photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai Az 581
Albert Einstein (around the end of the 1980s). Design: Otl Aicher. Photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai Az 574 (3)
Sketches: portrait sketches as models for bronze cast busts of Sophie and Hans Scholl (ca. 1989-1991). Design: Otl Aicher. Photo: Oleg Kuchar. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai Az 574 (1)+(3). Photo Busts: Bronze busts of Hans and Sophie Scholl in the Ulm Town Hall, designed by Otl Aicher. Photo: Stefan Schmid. © City Archive Ulm
Portraits of Plato, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Martin Luther, Wilhelm von Ockham, Dante Alighieri, Bertrand Russell (around 1985). Design: Otl Aicher. © Florian Aicher Rotis, HfG Archive / Museum Ulm. HfG-Ar Ai G div posters gs2 schk9 (19-24)