The collection of Walter Giers, a pioneering figure in electronic art, will be displayed at the Museum Ritter in Waldenbuch starting October 19th. However, the future of his artistic legacy remains uncertain as his family searches for permanent solutions following the exhibition. Victor and Pe Giers have carefully packed more than 40 works by the electronic art pioneer Walter Giers (1937-2016) into large transport boxes for their journey to Waldenbuch.
The exhibition, titled "Walter Giers. Just Do It!" will run at the Museum Ritter in Waldenbuch from Sunday, October 19th through April 19th, 2026. The show will also feature highlights from the light art collection of Marli Hoppe-Ritter. These carefully curated pieces represent the innovative work of an artist who helped shape the landscape of media art since the 1960s with his light-sound objects.
Next year marks ten years since Walter Giers passed away, a milestone that holds deep significance for his son Victor. "When I helped him set up his exhibition at GmündTec in 2007, I promised him that I would take care of his work for ten years after his death," Victor recalls. As an artist himself, Victor has dedicated himself to preserving and promoting his father's artistic legacy during this decade-long commitment.
With the ten-year period coming to an end next year, the family faces difficult decisions about the collection's future. Both Victor and his mother Pe hesitate when asked about their plans. "We can only outline our ideal vision," they explain together. Their primary concern is ensuring that Walter Giers' works remain accessible to the public, preserving the educational and cultural value of his groundbreaking contributions to electronic art.
"We would prefer if a public institution would purchase the collection," they agree, though they acknowledge the financial realities they face. "But it's clear that we will continue to sell pieces," Pe adds pragmatically. The family holds little hope for establishing a dedicated Giers museum in Schwäbisch Gmünd, despite the city's support through the provision of the Schmiedturm tower. Additional financial resources from the municipality appear unlikely, and both mother and son agree that the collection doesn't necessarily need to remain in Gmünd.
During the Waldenbuch exhibition, visitors to the Schmiedturm in Schwäbisch Gmünd will find limited viewing opportunities. "Until then, we cannot offer guided tours," explains Pe Giers, Walter's widow. The tower, along with a storage room in the city, currently houses approximately 120 of Giers' works. The artist was not only known for his electronic art but also made his mark as a designer and jazz musician, showcasing his diverse creative talents.
A significant portion of Giers' notebooks and written archives have already been deposited at the ZKM (Center for Art and Media) in Karlsruhe. The ZKM is recognized as one of the world's most important cultural institutions in the field of art and media. Giers had a highly acclaimed exhibition there in 2022 and 2023, which brought renewed attention to his innovative work and secured his place in the institution's prestigious archives.
The Museum Ritter in Waldenbuch represents another prestigious venue for Giers' work. The museum houses the private art collection of Marli Hoppe-Ritter, co-owner of the Ritter Sport company. This collection is unique worldwide, as it focuses exclusively on the square in 20th and 21st-century art, making it a fitting venue for Giers' geometric and light-based works.
"The collaboration has an almost familial character," says Victor Giers, who spends considerable time on-site helping to set up the exhibition. "Thankfully, we now have experience with exhibitions," he notes, though he acknowledges that the effort required is substantial, despite support from the respective museums. The process of preparing and installing these complex electronic artworks requires careful handling and technical expertise.
While Victor expresses joy in seeing his father's art displayed publicly, he also pursues his own artistic projects. Currently, he's working to make his father's works digitally accessible, allowing them to be experienced in 3D on computers. This digital preservation effort represents a forward-thinking approach to maintaining access to the artist's legacy.
Interactivity plays a crucial role in this digital project. "Videos or photos cannot make the works sufficiently experiential, since motion sensors or random generators play an important role," Victor explains. This technical complexity underscores the innovative nature of Walter Giers' work and the challenges involved in preserving and displaying electronic art from earlier decades.
For now, the focus remains on the analog task of building the exhibition in Waldenbuch. Once this major show concludes, the family plans to make definitive decisions about the collection's future. The exhibition represents both a celebration of Walter Giers' artistic achievements and a crucial moment for determining how his pioneering contributions to electronic art will be preserved and shared with future generations.
