When is the exhibition open?

The exhibition is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. The museum is closed on Mondays.

How much does admission cost?

Museum admission is 5 EUR, reduced 3 EUR. Family tickets and group prices are available.

Are there guided tours or educational offers?

Guided tours and workshops are planned. Information will follow through the Museum of Applied Arts Gera and the city website.

Is photography allowed in the exhibition?

Information on photography has not yet been published. Please pay attention to on-site notices or ask at the cash desk.

Is the museum accessible for people with disabilities?

Current information on accessibility will follow. If necessary, it is recommended to contact the Museum of Applied Arts Gera in advance.

How do I reach the exhibition location?

The exhibition location is the Museum of Applied Arts Gera, Greizer Straße 37-39, 07545 Gera. Public transport and parking options are available in the vicinity.

Seeing Applied Graphics Anew: Paul Helmut Becker at MAK Gera, Tradition Meets GDR Economy

Name: Paul Helmut Becker – Applied Graphics between Tradition and Economic Policy of the GDR
Start: 2026-03-31T13:00:00+02:00
End: 2027-02-14T18:00:00+01:00
Location: Museum für Angewandte Kunst Gera

Between Brand and Power: Paul Helmut Becker at MAK Gera

This exhibition at the Museum of Applied Arts Gera opens a rarely accessible chapter of design history: Paul Helmut Becker, one of the defining applied graphic designers of the GDR, shows how brand identity, packaging aesthetics, and typography emerged under the conditions of a planned economy. An intense art experience that connects design tradition and contemporary history in a focused examination of his work.

Biography and Context: A Life for Design

Born in 1913 in Barmen and deceased in 1998 in Leipzig, Paul Helmut Becker worked as an applied graphic designer, calligrapher, and lithographer. After training and early positions in Reichenbach and Leipzig, his focus shifted to the GDR in the 1950s. His career unfolds between artisanal precision, typographic discipline, and a clear understanding of the impact of brands in public spaces. The exhibition locates Becker's oeuvre art-historically between traditions of graphic design and the ideological and material scarcity of the post-war decades.

Form, Color, Function: Detailed Examination of His Work

Posters, packaging, logos: Becker's painting in the service of industry was graphics. In his designs, the readability of modern typography combines with reduced, striking color surfaces. The spatial impact arises from serially presented studies, test prints, and final layouts. Materials such as paper, cardboard, and printing inks tell of production reality and tactile quality – an aesthetic experience that illustrates how corporate design in the GDR negotiated between consumer promises and standardization.

Curating and Collection Reference

The presentation makes the creation process visible: from free scribbles to technical drawings to market-compliant packaging. The museum's focus is on work analysis and cultural-historical classification. The collection of the Museum of Applied Arts Gera – with thousands of Becker's estate objects – allows for source-rich insights into GDR design practice, complemented by contextual materials on economic policy and distribution channels.

Learning from Objects: Design History to Touch

The exhibition is excellently suited for education and mediation: reading typography, decoding pictorial signs, reflecting on brand management historically. Ideal for students of communication design, teachers, and anyone wishing to see visual culture anew in everyday life. Information on guided tours and workshops will follow through the museum.

Conclusion

Those who want to understand how visual identity emerges under political and material restrictions will find exemplary answers here. Colors, forms, and brand images tell stories of everyday life, industry, and ideology. Visit the exhibition – for a precise, moving art experience that shows how design writes history.