Art in the GDR

Thirteen years after the German reunification, the Neue Nationalgalerie will be exhibiting a comprehensive retrospective featuring the most important artistic highlights in the 40-year history of the GDR. In reference to an exhibition it showed in 1985, titled "Art in the Federal Republic of Germany 1945 - 1985," the Nationalgalerie will now be presenting an equally extensive exhibition of East German artistic development.

The retrospective will not feature the works in chronological order, however, but rather dramaturgically, presenting the wide range of materials spanning more than 40 years in essay-format based on aspects of elective affinity and counter positioning. Despite the cultural-political restrictions and reprisals typical of a "closed society," this now historical "hard evidence" will demonstrate that a distinct and rich variety of artistic achievements was possible in the GDR. In addition to the large exhibition, selected examples of prints, stage design, book illustrations and posters will be shown in the cabinet copperplate engraving rooms and at the art library in the Kulturforum.

The exhibition will be curated by Eugen Blume and Roland März. From July 25 to October 26, 2003, visitors will be able to view 350 works - paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, videos and films - by more than 100 artists at the Neue Nationalgalerie.