Invitation to the inauguration of the stained glass windows by Herbert Bessel
The restoration of the art glazing in the foyer of the Johann-Vießmann-Schule - Berufliches Schulzentrum Hof has been completed. This measure was only possible because the Viessmann Foundation gGmbH, the Oberfrankenstiftung, the Hoftex Group-Stiftung and the Gemeinnützige Stiftung der Sparkasse Hochfranken provided significant support. Interested parties are cordially invited to the handover of the restored glass artwork to the school family and the public on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 1:30 pm.
Registration is requested: https://einladung.hof.de/PAWYQ24S
Access to the event in the school foyer will probably be through the inner courtyard due to the ongoing construction work.
About Herbert Bessel
In 1960, the artist Herbert Bessel (1921-2013) created an artistic design for the approx. 14 m high and 3 m wide glass façade of the foyer and main staircase of the Johann-Vießmann-Schule - Staatliche Berufsschule Hof, which extends across all floors. At the time, the work was realized using a new type of bonding technique.
As part of the general renovation of the building, it was also necessary to restore the glass façade, which showed considerable damage due to the adhesive used 60 years ago. The entire bonding surfaces of the epoxy resin adhesive were severely discoloured and the motifs were barely recognizable. However, all but a few of the mosaic's genuine antique glass panes were preserved and could be removed and applied to a new backing pane to restore the original condition.
In the 1960s, the gluing technique used at the time was new and very interesting for artistic design, as it replaced the lead glazing with its separating bars and made a new artistic expression possible. Herbert Bessel was one of the first visual artists to use this new method. With his graphics and embossed prints, Herbert Bessel is one of the most important artists in northern Bavaria and beyond. Born in Hamburg, he initially studied in his home town before transferring to the Academy of Fine Arts in Nuremberg in 1947, where he graduated as a master student in 1954. His works can be found from Lindau to Hof in southern Germany. He created around 40 different monumental glass works for churches, but also for secular buildings. The Hof work at the vocational school is exemplary of this part of his oeuvre.