Friedenskinder,2024
"Someone who is taking a deep breath will experience the world differently from someone who is being throttled."—Reiner Kunze, 1981
The GDR branded itself as a "peace state," projecting an image of democracy and peace while simultaneously enforcing widespread militarisation. Starting in kindergarten, militarisation continued through schooling and university. Educational materials and school activities instilled military values and loyalty, reinforcing a strong friend-enemy mindset. Annual manoeuvres like "Snowflake" and pre-military programmes provided both physical and military training, with my cohort attending a six-week course in Beichlingen. Independent peace movements were not tolerated and were seen as undermining the state's defence readiness. This systematic militarisation aimed to prepare children from an early age to defend the socialist fatherland and deeply embed them in state ideology. Since 1962, 18 months of compulsory military service had been enforced. Those who refused could opt for non-armed service, but further refusal could lead to imprisonment. Conscientious objectors were not tolerated, and anyone wishing to attend university had to commit to three years of military service.
In the mid-1980s as a young teacher, I was suddenly summoned to the district council after school. I had no idea what the reason for the meeting was and had no opportunity to prepare. After a nervous bus ride, I was directed to a closed door, where a group of officials, as well as my headmaster and the boy's parents, awaited me. They questioned why I hadn’t presented this student—who had applied to become a professional officer at just 14—as a role model for the class, and how I, as a non-member of the FDJ youth organisation, could effectively convey socialist ideals. Completely overwhelmed, I broke down—a reaction that has stayed with me to this day.
The inspiration for Friedenskinder comes from Reiner Kunze's Die wunderbaren Jahre, a book that profoundly influenced me. As Kunze faced repression and eventual expulsion from the GDR for his dissenting views, I admired his defiance in the face of censorship. This project is a homage to Reiner Kunze. The title Friedenskinder (Peace Children) comes from a short story in Kunze's "forbidden book," which questioned the military education of children and was published only in the West in 1976. It portrays everyday life for East German youth, offering an ironic critique of the GDR's totalitarian system.
Using copies of his texts, I created 64 sculptures by cutting up typed pages and rolling them into 5 cm rifle shell cases. These objects serve as a reflection on the tension between repression and resistance. They symbolise how words of dissent, even when silenced, persist within the very tools of control.
2 images, each sized 44cm high by 92cm wide, or divided into 6 panels , with each panel measuring 44cm high by 33cm wide. The prints are Giclée ink jet print on INNOVA White Matte 285g
The GDR branded itself as a "peace state," projecting an image of democracy and peace while simultaneously enforcing widespread militarisation. Starting in kindergarten, militarisation continued through schooling and university. Educational materials and school activities instilled military values and loyalty, reinforcing a strong friend-enemy mindset. Annual manoeuvres like "Snowflake" and pre-military programmes provided both physical and military training, with my cohort attending a six-week course in Beichlingen. Independent peace movements were not tolerated and were seen as undermining the state's defence readiness. This systematic militarisation aimed to prepare children from an early age to defend the socialist fatherland and deeply embed them in state ideology. Since 1962, 18 months of compulsory military service had been enforced. Those who refused could opt for non-armed service, but further refusal could lead to imprisonment. Conscientious objectors were not tolerated, and anyone wishing to attend university had to commit to three years of military service.
In the mid-1980s as a young teacher, I was suddenly summoned to the district council after school. I had no idea what the reason for the meeting was and had no opportunity to prepare. After a nervous bus ride, I was directed to a closed door, where a group of officials, as well as my headmaster and the boy's parents, awaited me. They questioned why I hadn’t presented this student—who had applied to become a professional officer at just 14—as a role model for the class, and how I, as a non-member of the FDJ youth organisation, could effectively convey socialist ideals. Completely overwhelmed, I broke down—a reaction that has stayed with me to this day.
The inspiration for Friedenskinder comes from Reiner Kunze's Die wunderbaren Jahre, a book that profoundly influenced me. As Kunze faced repression and eventual expulsion from the GDR for his dissenting views, I admired his defiance in the face of censorship. This project is a homage to Reiner Kunze. The title Friedenskinder (Peace Children) comes from a short story in Kunze's "forbidden book," which questioned the military education of children and was published only in the West in 1976. It portrays everyday life for East German youth, offering an ironic critique of the GDR's totalitarian system.
Using copies of his texts, I created 64 sculptures by cutting up typed pages and rolling them into 5 cm rifle shell cases. These objects serve as a reflection on the tension between repression and resistance. They symbolise how words of dissent, even when silenced, persist within the very tools of control.
2 images, each sized 44cm high by 92cm wide, or divided into 6 panels , with each panel measuring 44cm high by 33cm wide. The prints are Giclée ink jet print on INNOVA White Matte 285g
