In 2014, Gabriele Muschter (1946–2023) and Uwe Warnke (1956) began conducting filmed interviews with visual artists and art educators, the majority of whom had an East German background. They approached those who had gained life and artistic experience in two different social systems, experiencing various conflicts and patronizing attitudes, but also celebrating successes. They saw their task as raising and preserving their wealth of experience in order to, on the one hand, clarify the understanding of these conflicts and, on the other, to deepen insights into the artists’ biographies and the resulting works.
The editing is a rough cut. Olaf Voigtländer provided technical support.
Initially supported with funds from the Federal Foundation for the Reappraisal of the SED Dictatorship (Bundesstiftung Aufarbeitung), the vast majority was created independently and with personal resources. To bring this project to completion in 2025/26, the Stiftung Kunstforum Berliner Volksbank has offered its support and is presenting all interviews on its website for the first time.
The rights to all films remain with Gabriele Muschter and Uwe Warnke, who are also responsible for the content of the films.
