Frei Schwimmen - Gemeinsam?!
What does it mean to swim freely? Together? Or perhaps separately? This exhibition is about more than just the history of swimming pools in south-west Germany and bathing culture. It focuses on questions of tolerance, the individual and society, democracy and freedom.
The special exhibition “Swimming Freely – Together?!” at the Haus der Geschichte Baden-Württemberg in Stuttgart explores a topic that only appears light-hearted and carefree at first glance: public swimming and bathing. Tracing the cultural history of bathing in the south-west, it becomes clear that public baths have always been a mirror of society. A place where people either come together or distance themselves from one another. It is here that conflicts are played out and one’s own freedom and the freedom of others are negotiated.
The spatial design in the special exhibition area of the Haus der Geschichte evokes the evocative image of a swimming pool and creates an atmosphere into which visitors can literally immerse themselves. Caustic light effects sweep across a shimmering blue pool floor, reflected by an imaginary water surface on which white and red lane dividers appear to float. Light, seemingly floating elements structure the exhibition like wave patterns and, through their own transparency, allow connections to be drawn between the exhibition’s chapters and narratives. The stories of ‘Free Swimming’ – from the princely baths of the 19th century, through workers’ and public baths, to the outdoor pools of the present day – are told through exhibits, images and multimedia resources. The exhibition’s narrative is structured chronothematically and deliberately encourages visitors to move freely through the exhibition: to discover it and immerse themselves in its stories.
This atmospheric exhibition brings to life what bathing culture and its evolution reveal about the era and the society in question. Ultimately, it raises the question of how we can swim freely today – as individuals and as a society. Visitors can share their own thoughts on this subject on a large mural.
