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“You Can Take a Fresh Approach to Art Here!” – the Neighbourhood of Gasteig HP8

Even as the Gasteig HP8 was being built, the site never failed to surprise us with new facets. As new buildings stretched skywards next to construction cranes, we explored the area and made acquaintance with some of the locals. We met two of our new neighbours between car bonnets and studio stage.

Men in workshop in front of luxury cars
Ramon Wegner (left) and Rene Decker are Coat’n Cast. The experienced pair foil wrap taxis, aircraft, artworks and more. Copyright: Andrea Plücke/Gasteig

Coat’n Cast: creativity is in their DNA

It’s uncomfortably warm in the Coat’n Cast workshop. While Rene tinkers between the wheels, Ramon applies heat to the final piece of film that is being used to wrap the car. Whether it’s a unicorn on a bonnet or an advert for a cinema film on a helicopter, the Coat’n Cast duo see no limits to their creativity.

 

What do the two of you need for your work?
Not that much really; a heat gun, a squeegee to smooth out the film and a knife to cut it – and maybe an extension cable as well. Working indoors has the advantage of avoiding dust and dirt. And temperatures around 20° are perfect for working with high-quality film.

 

In your opinion, what vinyl wrapping jobs are particularly effective?
There is a racing car with an alligator design by us in the Audi museum in Ingolstadt, for example. But we can also wrap boats, aircraft, tattoo studios – and we can do stage sets as well. Recently, we’ve been spending a lot more time working with artists.

 

What are your hopes linked to the arrival of the Gasteig?
Ramon: We spent 20 years running a business in complete isolation on this site and everything we’ve achieved has been done without passing trade. I hope that opening up the site will also open up lots of fresh opportunities and bring in new people. I really like having a mixed community and I’ve organised get-togethers in the past where I’ve had bankers sitting next to tattoo artists and drain cleaners. Bringing people from a range of backgrounds together is always fun. Rene: I’m hoping to hear some great music!

 

What concert would tempt you both to visit the Isarphilharmonie?
Rene: Rammstein! Or one of the classics would be great; “Flying Bach” with breakdancing in the Gasteig Philharmonic Hall was brilliant. Ramon: I think people who play the violin to a high standard are really interesting. I might be able to strip a car down to its components and then put them all back together again, but it’s still a bit of a shame that I never learned to play the violin.

Tattoo of a woman on upper arm
Colorful foils in geometric shapes
Man in workshop with mask at big foil machine

A stepping stone to the stage: the Artemis drama school in Munich

If you’ve already got a job but still dream of becoming an actor, then Artemis offers training that fits round your work commitments. The drama school in HP8 offers seminars, professional development and theatre projects for both amateurs and professionals. Paul Brusa, artistic director at the drama school’s base in Munich, can see the Isarphilharmonie and watch the cranes at work from the studio.

 

Paul Brusa, why are you smiling?
I just think it’s really funny that I can watch the Gasteig construction site out of the window here. In a previous life, I worked in an office leasing out construction cranes, so I know exactly why they’re there and how tall they are.

 

How did you end up here at the Artemis drama school?
I studied acting in Linz, I spent a long time working at various theatres and last year, I led an intensive Artemis summer camp. Two weeks of theatre here every day; a defined period when people can fully immerse themselves. That was wonderful. When they were looking for an artistic director, I cheekily said that I would do it!

 

The Gasteig is putting quite a few stages within easy reach. How do you see a shared future?
I’m a fan of the Gasteig and I think it’s wonderful that this place is being opened up, that it’ll get more attention and become a cultural hub for everyone. At the moment, you only come here for a specific reason, but soon people will be able to stroll around and be inspired by everything that’s on offer here. The fact that we’ll all be operating just a stone’s throw from each other is sure to bear fruit in some form or other.

 

Do you already have ideas in mind?
Questioning processes and creating new collaborations often produces great results. You can share inspiration and we’re all close together here, so we can simply get started, try things out and do something together across all the different disciplines. Although directors often have to work within certain limits, I get the feeling that this site is an opportunity to dream without those limits and to work together to completely rethink art!

Man in a red door frame
Dreaming of joint projects with the Gasteig: Paul Brusa, artistic director at the Artemis drama school in Munich. Copyright: Andrea Plücke/Gasteig

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