“Welcome to Leipzig” Podcast Episode 11 – Industrial Culture in Leipzig: Spinnerei
Hall 20A – Spinnerei massive archive
Axel and Paula's exploration tour through the cotton mill starts in the Hall 20AA steep staircase leads down to Michael Ludwig from Spinnerei massive archiveHe leads them through the architectural history tour and provides them and us with exciting information.
The word creation archive massive can be easily explained:
Archive – because the hall is the only place of Spinnerei itself, where you can learn about the history of the former industrial site.
Massif – is due to the solid and sustainable construction with the double brick walls and double cast iron windows and is the reason why the Spinnerei is still so well preserved today and has hardly changed externally.
The information should also include the First stop There you will find information material and information about the guided tours through the grounds. Every Friday and Saturday there are hourly Guided Tours at selected times by Michael and his team. In addition, the hall itself is also a gallery for artists on site with changing exhibitions and thus a showcase into the studios.
The history of the Spinnerei
Michael leads Axel and Paula through the grounds of the cotton mill, as it was between 1884 and 1909 with the four main spinning mills The Hall 20 was the first Spinnerei and thus also the starting point of the tour. There are still numerous machines, devices and spindles there, which give an insight into the former use of the site, even if today no Spinnereimachine is more among them.
The cotton mill was one of the largest Spinnereien on the mainland EuropeMichael explains that at peak times up to 4000 people on 10 hectares The photos inside show the difficult working conditions of the time. On the other hand, the workers' housing and allotments on the site show that the buildings were very socially minded and modern.
The transformation from an industrial site to a cultural site
Cotton is still in demand today, but the European textile market migrated due to cheaper production and cheaper working conditions to AsiaAnother reason for the change of time was the outdated technology in the GDR. It became increasingly difficult and ultimately impossible to find buyers for the yarn, so no longer competitive was.
Along the tracks
Back at the farm, Axel discovers the rails. Michael explains that the Cotton and the yarn transported The cotton came into the area on the rails, was distributed, spun into yarn and then collected underground, out again on the rails and from there transported to the weaving mills.
Along the tracks towards the second main spinning mill The three come to the first galleries and the last preserved chimney This is the only 100% renovated building on the entire site and today only has monument function.
Great cinema
You can discover more than just fine art on the site. For more than 10 years, a Open air cinema operated. Through this and three theater venues is also the performing arts in the Spinnerei strongly represented. In the Christoph Ruckhäberle-run arthouse cinema Demanding and partly analogue films are shown for film lovers.
In addition to the 13 galleries, the cinema and the venues, there are also numerous designers and three art printing companies where you can make your own lithographs and etchings or buy them. Boesner in Hall 3 you can since 2005 shopping for art supplies and in Workshops take action yourself.
Hall 18 and the underground system
The three continue into the Keller the former second Spinnerei in Hall 18. The basement was mainly used as a warehouse and served to connect the various Spinnereien. On a distance of almost one kilometer you can admire underground credentials for Spinnereien run on the original heavy-duty metal tiles from 1910.
A special feature of Hall 18 is the insulation, because the yarn needed a constant temperature of 24 degrees Celsius to run smoothly over the machine.Neo Rauch.
Neo Rauch is one of the most famous living painter in Germany and figurehead is New Leipzig SchoolThe term is controversial, but the artists, including Micheal Triegel, Matthias Weischer and David Schnell, are connected above all by their studies in Leipzig and their success.
Neo Rauch's paintings are sometimes worth a million euros. He himself works in the Spinnerei, but Michael does not reveal where exactly on the tour. Neo Rauch's gallery EIGEN + ART You can still visit it. There used to be boilers here that initially produced steam for the machines. Nowadays, every six or seven years you can see an exhibition of his work in his gallery.
History and Art Connected
Axel and Paula's exploration tour is coming to an end. Michael says that a visit to the Spinnerei not only for art lovers, but also for those who are interested in History and architecture But even if you just stroll, look and browse want is the Spinnerei worth a trip.
The galleries are free and publicly accessible to all, with the exception of Hall 14.
Come by and get Insights into the creation processes and results of creative work in the Leipzig cotton spinning mill!
In the next episode of "Welcome to Leipzig - The podcast for your Leipzig trip" Axel and Paula explore the spa and massage offerings in the Meri Sauna at Lake Kulkwitz.
Subscribe to “Welcome to Leipzig – The podcast for your Leipzig trip” on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast and Deezerso you don't miss any more episodes. Until next time, when it says again:"Welcome to Leipzig".
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