Keeping Memories Alive
The exhibition „Wir Leitzianer – die ersten 100 Jahre“, which was on display in Wetzlar’s New Town Hall this spring left a lasting impression. The poster showing a couple of “Leitzians” is a beautiful memory.
Over the course of several weeks, the history of Leitz and Leica came alive on the second floor of the New Town Hall. Visitors could immerse themselves in the workshops, marvel at technical feats, and not least encounter many people who have done their bit so that Leitz and Leica truly made history.
It is thanks to the collector, researcher, and publicist Helmut Lagler that the exhibition became possible in the first place. From 1958 to 1961, he trained as an apprentice of precision mechanics with Leitz. For him, the time in Wetzlar were formative years during which he internalized everything that constitutes a “Leitzian”. By now, it’s been 14 years, that he has been working on an eight-volume book series titled “Phänomen Leica”. Four volumes have been published in the meantime. The results of his relentless work were on display in excerpts in the exhibition.
As Helmut Lagler always pointed out, his main focus is on the many “Leitzians” who have made sure that Leitz and Leica are still regarded as a phenomenon. In the exhibition, they were omnipresent – and that means in person, too. Ralf A. Niggemann put them in front of the camera for a portray during the opening ceremony. This is how that poster came to be which itself will keep these wonderful encounters alive in our memories.
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