F.C. Gundlach photographs MARIS

From March 28 to September 28, 2025, the Textile and Technology Museum in Neumünster will present a special exhibition combining art and local history: black-and-white and color photographs by F.C. Gundlach (1926–2021) will showcase designs from the collections of the former Neumünster clothing company MARIS. The exhibition is curated by the F.C. Gundlach Foundation.

According to his own self-image, F.C. Gundlach was always a photographer working on commission. He worked for high-circulation magazines such as Film und Frau (1952-1966) and Brigitte (1963-1986), but also for numerous major clients in the fashion industry, such as the clothing company MARIS from Neumünster. Gundlach maintained a long and consistent collaboration with MARIS. His photographs for the meticulously designed brochures, campaigns, and catalogs shaped the brand's image for a long time.

From 1956 until the 1970s, MARIS commissioned F.C. Gundlach to create photographs, resulting in a multitude of images designed to showcase the timelessly elegant, high-quality MARIS fashion to its customers. The photographic series range from factory shots and studio photography to elaborate on-location productions. Strikingly, these often feature particularly attractive compositions in front of vehicles such as ships, cars, and airplanes. This strongly architectural style is typical of F.C. Gundlach's overall work and also conveys a sense of cosmopolitanism to the MARIS models, associating them with the spirit of the Jet Age.

The works come from the archive of the F.C. Gundlach Foundation. Previously unseen images were selected from original negatives and reprinted. The exhibits are complemented by a variety of supporting materials, including catalogs, the company newsletter MARIS , and behind-the-scenes photos from the photo shoots. We thank Dörte Schmidt-Buchholz, daughter of MARIS founder Hermann Marsian, for initiating the exhibition, providing advice, and lending the works, as well as Kira Enss from the Butzlab photo lab in Hamburg for the high-quality prints that complete our vintage selection.

OPENING: Thursday, March 27, 2025, 7 p.m.
admission free
Museum of Textiles and Technology Neumünster
Small Spots 1
24534 Neumünster
Opening hours: Tue to Fri 9am to 5pm
Sat and Sun 10am to 5pm
Closed on Mondays