Mission G = Mission Graffl

Savings in a wider-ranging scale

This neo-archeological expedition will lead into the south of Lower Bavaria. Because here many abandoned old farmhouses or uninhabitated buildings in the old centers of the small towns will be found.

Quite often they still are full of left behind furniture, tools, china or clothes. The well preserved object sometimes get saved and rearranged in local museums.

But most of the objects are damaged or destroyed and not regarded worthy enough for the museums. Local people call these things "Graffl" and remove them without hesitating to the landfill.

But I see in this "Graffl" a phantastic but stubborn beauty. By performing my neo-archeological savings I try to save as many of these objects as possible.

In the months of September, October, November 2022 I plan to perform my savings at three chosen locations in Lower Bavaria and to show the results (= my artifical steles, ensembles and bundles) in an exhibition, documenting all steps of my work and organize medial coverage.

Very important: This project is sponsored by the Government of Upper Bavaria through the program 'Young Arts and New Approaches'.

Herbst-Vernissage

Die Situation

Weil die Ausstellung noch im Jahr 2022 aufgebaut und eröffnet werden sollte, hat im Oktober, zwei Wochen vor der Winterpause, eine kleine Eröffnungsfeier stattgefunden.

Aber bereits die kurze Würdigung in der Zeitung hat viele Leser bewogen, in den verbleibenden zwei Wochen die Ausstellung zu besuchen. Und das Echo war beeindruckend positiv. Die "Mission Graffl" in Niederbayern ist nicht nur vollendet, sondern auch angenommen worden!

Die bewegendste Sichtung/Bergung

Die Situation

Der alte Bauernhof der Familie Kerscher in Emmersdorf wurde etwa um 1785 gebaut. Vor 60 Jahren hat ihn die Familie verlassen, vor 30 Jahren ist die letzte Bewohnerin, die unverheiratete "alte Jungfer" Tante Mari, gestorben. Seither hat das Haus außer einmal ein Heimatpfleger und ein Denkmalschützer niemand mehr betreten.

Der Verfall ist umfassend, ein Teil des Hauses ist bereits eingestürzt. Die Fundsituation im Chaos der Räume erwies sich jedoch als extrem ergiebig. Und wer hätte gedacht, dass man im Nachlass der alten Jungfer Fachliteratur über Kinderwunsch, Geschlechtskrankheiten und Liebesrausch findet ...

Die geborgenen Hinterlassenschaften wurden zum spektakulärsten Ensemble in der Ausstellung zur "Mission Graffl" im Freilichtmuseum Massing.

Dokumentation einer Vor-Ort-Recherche

Die Situation

In Markt Tann, Landkreis Rottal-Inn, steht seit Jahren das zur ehemaligen Metzgerei Strebl gehörende Wirtshaus mit dem großen Ballsaal im Obergeschoß leer.

Die Gaststube wurde bis ins Jahr 2015 noch sporadisch zwischengenutzt und stückweise renoviert. Aber auf dem Dachboden aber entfaltet sich eine fantastische Grafflwelt.

Fotos natürlich ab jetzt auch immer wieder von Josepha & Markus = https://josephaundmarkus.de

Very important: Professional documentation of my work via photography and film

The Situation

When I first met Josepha and Markus Wagner we wanted to produce a follow-up to my old travel-guide  "Magic Traveling - Irland" together.

But then things took a very different direction ... and now both of them accompany me during my "Mission Graffl" – which as well leads to quite magic experiences in the old and abandoned lost places in Lower Bavaria.

For me this cooperation is a great honour and gives me a lot of joy!

Their great work can be seen at https://josephaundmarkus.de

Place of action: Ortenburg Castle / Markt Ortenburg / County Passau

The Situation

The residence of Landgrave of Ortenburg. Because: Both the small and the bigger castles of the noblemen are as well part of the tural reality of Lower Bavaria. The ambience may look very noble, but even here in the attics or in the out of use workshops  a lot of "Graffl" can be found, telling very special stories.

During a first inspection I as usual gathered many objects of interest, displaying them in an improvised arrangement ready for the tranported to the venue of the exhibition.

A place of action: Building # 3 / close to Eggenfelden / county Rottal-Inn

The Situation

A typical stand alone house of a smallholder with stable and barn under one roof. The building itself seemingly has been renovated a few decades ago and got abandoned in 2010. The rooms in the house are quite empty with only some furniture. But the stable and the barn were full with findings. 

During a first inspection the most interesting pieces were rescued and arranged to an improvised ensemble – ready to be transported to the exhibition.

There will be a large solo show in the Open-air Museum Massing / Markt Massing / Landkreis Rottal-Inn

The Situation

The name of this traditional farmhouse is "Marxensölde" – a so called "Mittertennhaus". The building shows the condition of the year 1885. Originally the farmhouse was located in a village named Seemanshausen, built in 1812, changed to more modern needs in 1885, taken down in1983 an reassembled in1985/86 at the site of the museum.

In the stable and the barn of this old farmhouse I will install the findings of my "Mission Graffl" in an ideally matching ambience.

Location: Unterrettenbach Village /  Bavaria / Germany

The Situation:

By reading a feature story in the newspaper SÜDDEUTSCHEN ZEITUNG reporting on many abandoned farmhouses in Lower Bavaria my attention was drawn on this phenomenon. At one of the mentioned locations I undertook an exemplary examination and extensive documentation of this farmhouse.

I left all objects untouched and unchanged in their original arrangement.