Geschichte wird Kunst / Imprinting History catalogs artwork created during a residency at the Historisch-Technische Museum Peenemünde, located on the grounds of the WWII era power plant in Germany, where Aragón explored the history of the Nazi-era slave labor missile research center and the development of the “Vergeltungswaffen” (V-weapons). This project was done in collaboration with the Till Richter Museum – Schloss Buggenhagen.

  • power plant
    power plant
  • coal conveyor with crane
    coal conveyor with crane
  • V-2 rocket and V-1 flying bomb
    V-2 rocket and V-1 flying bomb
Photographs by Miguel A. Aragón

Installation views

  • Imprinting History
    Imprinting History
  • Imprinting History (alternative view)
    Imprinting History (alternative view)
  • Imprinting History (side view)
    Imprinting History (side view)
  • Briten bombardieren Peenemünde - Fenster No. 1
    Briten bombardieren Peenemünde
    Fenster No. 1
  • Briten bombardieren Peenemünde - Fenster No. 2 (back view)
    Briten bombardieren Peenemünde
    Fenster No. 2 (back view)
  • Briten bombardieren Peenemünde - Fenster No. 2 (front view)
    Briten bombardieren Peenemünde
    Fenster No. 2 (front view)
  • Briten bombardieren Peenemünde - Fenster No. 3
    Briten bombardieren Peenemünde
    Fenster No. 3
Installation photographs by Erica Botkin

Selected images

  • Himmel - cyanotype – 50 x 40 cm.
    Himmel
    cyanotype – 50 x 40 cm.
  • Boden - rust, coal and enamel on vellum – 50 x 40 cm.
    Boden
    rust, coal and enamel on vellum – 50 x 40 cm.
  • Feuer - coal and enamel on vellum – 50 x 40 cm.
    Feuer
    coal and enamel on vellum – 50 x 40 cm.
  • Voll Gewindestange - rust on vellum – 24×19 in.
    Voll Gewindestange
    rust on vellum – 24×19 in.
  • Kranbrücke - coal on paper – 22.75×17 in.
    Kranbrücke
    coal on paper – 22.75×17 in.
  • Kohleförderband mit Kran - coal and ash on Mylar – 17.5×13.5 in.
    Kohleförderband mit Kran
    coal and ash on Mylar – 17.5×13.5 in.
  • Luftaufklärer - rust and enamel on paper – 24×19 in.
    Luftaufklärer
    rust and enamel on paper – 24×19 in.

Process

  • setting up
    setting up
  • imprinting rust
    imprinting rust
  • reviewing proof
    reviewing proof
  • spraying enamel paint
    spraying enamel paint
  • cleaning
    cleaning
  • final print
    final print
  • sensitizing paper
    sensitizing paper
  • exposing
    exposing
  • ready to wash
    ready to wash
Photographs by Gala Oró

Accompanying catalog, with limited edition woodcut print, for the exhibition “Imprinting History” with texts by Philipp Aumann and Till Richter and artwork by Gregorio Iglesias Mayo (Spain) and Miguel A. Aragón (Mexico / USA).

catalog and limited edition woodcut print

Peenemünde Project: Geschichte Wird Kunst – Imprinting History. Softcover, German / English.
Edition Braus Berlin, 112 pages, about 80 illustrations
ISBN: 978-3-86228-165-7

Kohlekraftwerk. Two-color woodcut, 9.5 x 8 in.

To purchase a copy of the catalog, which includes the limited edition woodcut, contact the artist.

A variation of the installation was first exhibited on the Wunder mit Kalkül exhibition alongside around 130 objects, photos, films and documents, which cataloged the effort required to implement the long-range and precision weapons being developed in Peenemünde Germany, from 1936 to 1945.

  • Wunder mit Kalkül exhibition
    Wunder mit Kalkül exhibition
  • opening reception
    opening reception
  • installation view with V-2 rocket warhead
    installation view with V-2 rocket warhead
  • installation detail
    installation detail
Photographs by Historical-Technical Museum Peenemünde