GDR art on the upswing: Potsdam discovered the treasures of the past

GDR art on the upswing: Potsdam discovered the treasures of the past

Potsdam. The art from the GDR is experiencing a fulminant comeback! For a long time it was a controversial topic in the German cultural scene, since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990 as inferior. But times change! The generation of the recipients redesigned their East identity, and art from the GDR is now being viewed with a fresh look. In Brandenburg, the collections and exhibitions formally bloom!

The Brandenburg State Museum for Modern Art (BMLK) in Cottbus and Frankfurt (Oder) is a hotspot for this rediscovery. Director Ulrike Kremeier reports on an increasing interest in the works from the GDR - not only in East Germany, but also in West Germany and international. "Our collection is a resource," she explains, and the BMLK can show the largest stock of art from East Germany with 30,000 works. Regular alternating exhibitions show the diversity and quality of this art, which has often been overlooked in the past.

Working special exhibitions on the GDR art

In Beeskow, 17,000 works of art from the GDR are stored, which now arouse a strong interest. Andrea Wieloch, head of the Kunstarchive, reports on numerous loan orders and a lively exchange with specialist colleagues. The public is hungry for information about art from the GDR, and visitors come together from three generations to discover the variety of works. "Today people want to experience more nuances and do not hear clichés," emphasizes Wieloch. The art from the GDR is not only part of East German history, but also an important chapter in world history!

With the opening of the "Minsk" museum in Potsdam in 2022, art from the GDR is now also presented internationally. From February 2025, a large collection presentation will only show works from the GDR, including well -known artists such as Hartwig Ebersbach and Cornelia Schleuen. The rediscovery of GDR art is not just a trend, but a significant cultural event that will sustainably shape the art scene!