Art and stories: New show in Wurlgrund celebrates the GDR era

Art and stories: New show in Wurlgrund celebrates the GDR era

On June 22, 2025, a new exhibition opened at Waldwerk Wurlgrund entitled “Is this art or can it go away?” and was curated by the artists Karin and Klaus Töpfer. This exhibition focuses on works by East German artists and brings together works by Inge Jastram, Arno Mohr and Wolfgang Mattheuer, among others. Klaus Töpfer has an interesting story for each picture that takes visitors back in time.

A particular highlight of the exhibition is the first picture in the collection, which was purchased by Johannes Keller in Halle/Saale in 1977. The collection has grown continuously over the years and shows exciting excerpts from the art and history world of the GDR era. An aspect that Klaus Töpfer always emphasizes: “We are not a nostalgia club, but rather want to convey a positive basic feeling of our origins,” like Northern Courier reported.

A lively event

The opening was not only a show of works of art, but also a celebration with cake, conversations and music by artist Annette Wizisla. Classic songs were sung in the quiet atmosphere, including “Little White Dove of Peace” and works by many well-known GDR artists such as Brecht, Biermann and Nina Hagen. The finale was the singing of “Sandmann, dear Sandmann” together, a nostalgic remnant that couldn’t be missed.

Questions like “Do you remember?” and “What were you doing back then?” were at the center of the discussions. These approaches revive memories of the past and stimulate reflection - a central concern of Klaus and Karin Töpfer.

Excerpt from East German art history

The exhibition in the Waldwerk is part of a larger event tradition that has been running since 2020. This is in the context of efforts to offer a cross-section of East German art history and to bring the diversity of the works of art closer to visitors albertinum.skd.museum highlights.

The GDR's upscale art scene was a reflection of political and social life. Artists like Wolfgang Mattheuer, Bernhard Heisig and Willi Sitte shaped Eastern art and at the same time had to work within the framework of Socialist Realism, which was promoted by state institutions. Talented artists were organized in the Association of Visual Artists (VBK), which acted as a central interface for the marketing and exhibition of their works zeitklicks.de explained.

The opening of this exhibition and the accompanying evening show that despite the political restrictions of the past, art has always found a way to flourish. The Quivers demonstrate a good hand in their selection and design, while presenting the legacy of GDR art in a fresh and accessible way.