Friedenskinder,2024
The GDR presented itself as a "peace state," claiming to fulfil the Potsdam Agreements of 1945 with its emphasis on democracy and peace. However, this image was at odds with the widespread militarisation of society.
Since 1962, 18 months of compulsory military service was enforced. Those who refused could undertake non-armed service, but further refusal could lead to imprisonment. Conscientious objectors were not tolerated, and those wishing to attend university had to commit to three years of military service.
Militarisation in the GDR began in kindergarten and continued through schooling, embedding children in state ideology with a strong friend-enemy mindset. Educational materials, school activities organised by the Pioneer Organisation and FDJ, emphasised military values and loyalty. Annual manoeuvres like "Snowflake" and pre-military programmes provided physical and military training. In 1978, mandatory 14-day pre-military training for 17- to 18-year-olds was introduced; my cohort attended a six-week military course. Independent peace movements were not tolerated, and symbols like "Swords to Ploughshares" 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 ingrain them in state ideology.
Recently, I discovered a notebook from the early 1980s containing short stories from “Die wunderbaren Jahre” by East German author Reiner Kunze. His work was rarely accessible in the East. I could only borrow it temporarily and in secret, and I had to copy it by hand using a typewriter. Distributing or lending such 'forbidden' books carried significant risks, with the threat of police surveillance or house arrest looming over anyone found with banned printed material.
This project is a homage to Reiner Kunze. The title “Friedenskinder” (Peace Children) comes from Kunze’s short story, 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. Kunze also challenged the military indoctrination of children. Due to his dissident stance, Kunze was expelled from the GDR Writers' Union, and in 1977, facing the threat of several years in prison, he had to apply for expatriation from the GDR. I admire him for resisting censorship and regimentation.
For this piece, I used copies of the typed text, cut them up, and rolled them to fit into 5 cm high used rifle shell cases. There are 64 pieces in total, each approximately 15 cm high. For display, they are arranged in a grid, with some words still readable. The objects were photographed in black and white, then solarised, and are displayed as panoramas.
This work is both a tribute to the resilience of those who resisted and a reflection on how authoritarian regimes attempt to shape minds from an early age. By encasing the words of dissent in the very symbols of militarism they opposed, I aim to evoke the tension between repression and resistance and to honour those who fought for peace and freedom in the face of overwhelming pressure.
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
Since 1962, 18 months of compulsory military service was enforced. Those who refused could undertake non-armed service, but further refusal could lead to imprisonment. Conscientious objectors were not tolerated, and those wishing to attend university had to commit to three years of military service.
Militarisation in the GDR began in kindergarten and continued through schooling, embedding children in state ideology with a strong friend-enemy mindset. Educational materials, school activities organised by the Pioneer Organisation and FDJ, emphasised military values and loyalty. Annual manoeuvres like "Snowflake" and pre-military programmes provided physical and military training. In 1978, mandatory 14-day pre-military training for 17- to 18-year-olds was introduced; my cohort attended a six-week military course. Independent peace movements were not tolerated, and symbols like "Swords to Ploughshares" 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 ingrain them in state ideology.
Recently, I discovered a notebook from the early 1980s containing short stories from “Die wunderbaren Jahre” by East German author Reiner Kunze. His work was rarely accessible in the East. I could only borrow it temporarily and in secret, and I had to copy it by hand using a typewriter. Distributing or lending such 'forbidden' books carried significant risks, with the threat of police surveillance or house arrest looming over anyone found with banned printed material.
This project is a homage to Reiner Kunze. The title “Friedenskinder” (Peace Children) comes from Kunze’s short story, 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. Kunze also challenged the military indoctrination of children. Due to his dissident stance, Kunze was expelled from the GDR Writers' Union, and in 1977, facing the threat of several years in prison, he had to apply for expatriation from the GDR. I admire him for resisting censorship and regimentation.
For this piece, I used copies of the typed text, cut them up, and rolled them to fit into 5 cm high used rifle shell cases. There are 64 pieces in total, each approximately 15 cm high. For display, they are arranged in a grid, with some words still readable. The objects were photographed in black and white, then solarised, and are displayed as panoramas.
This work is both a tribute to the resilience of those who resisted and a reflection on how authoritarian regimes attempt to shape minds from an early age. By encasing the words of dissent in the very symbols of militarism they opposed, I aim to evoke the tension between repression and resistance and to honour those who fought for peace and freedom in the face of overwhelming pressure.
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