BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS

SEARCH FOR FORGOTTEN ART FROM EAST GERMANY

SEARCH FOR FORGOTTEN ART FROM EAST GERMANY

BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS

In this project, young people go on a search for art for architecture from East Germany. With the findings from their research and their impressions, they create their own artwork or media-format. A special exhibition in 2023 presented the results of five projects in Thuringia. This website documents projects from the years 2022/2023. A guideline with suggestions and exercises for independent research is available in German language.

Art of Architecture

When building and redesigning residential areas and city centres, East Germany spent part of the construction sum on building-related art and open space design. Murals, reliefs, glass windows and mosaics, sculptures and fountains were intended to represent the state ideology and the socialist way of life. With reunification, many buildings lost their function; they were demolished and modificated. The art associated with these buildings often disappeared along with them. The remaining artworks have been removed from their original context, are often in need of restoration and are controversial.