Radibor Castle: Refurbishment with baroque paintings and GDR paintings

Radibor Castle: Refurbishment with baroque paintings and GDR paintings

Schloss Radibor, 02627 Radibor, Deutschland - in Radibor, Saxony, the historic castle of Heilbronn is currently being restored. The building from the early 18th century has an area of ​​around 900 square meters and is to be used not only as a private residence after extensive work, but is also rented for weddings and events. Special events such as the Radibor-Schlösser night as well as theater and music events in the adjacent park are planned. The purchase price of the castle has not been disclosed, but Heilbronner states that he paid as much for it in 2021 as for a one -room apartment in Charlottenburg.

The restoration focuses on the freely or subsequent baroque paintings. This is done, taking into account the monument protection requirements, which, among other things, require the preservation of a murals. This mural comes from the GDR period and was created by Horst Schlosser, a student of the well-known painter Otto Dix. It represents an idealized representation of workers and farmers who are kept in the style of socialist realism, an art style that was created in the Soviet Union and was considered an official art form in the GDR for a long time.

socialist realism

Socialist realism was introduced in 1932 by the Soviet Union Communist Party as a binding guideline for artists. This conversion changed the art landscape sustainably by favoring and excluding an illustration of reality. In the GDR, after its foundation in 1949, this style remained dominant until the late 1980s. He addressed everyday socialist life and often presented optimistic representations of workers and farmers who were celebrated as heroes of work.

The description of the murals in Radibor Castle reflects typical characteristics of socialist realism, including the use of Sorbian costumes for the presentation of people from the region. Painting is to be integrated into the restoration concept, which is a challenge for the restorers. Heilbronner is optimistic that he will not assume the financial means and resources before the planned completion has been reached by Christmas 2028.

The high renovation costs are a central topic, and Heilbronner hopes for funding, especially from Saxon memorial promotion. This additional support could be of crucial importance in order to actually implement the ambitious plans for the castle. Nevertheless, the owner is confident that his curiosity and the desire to offer his children a different environment than hectic Berlin offer the necessary motivation for this big project.

While the work at Radibor Castle is progressing, the interest in the cultural importance of socialist art forms remains unbroken. Socialist realism is often dismissed as "cheap mass art" and yet its relevance in the history of the GDR and the region remains noticeable. Heilbronner has decided to actively preserve and reinterpret part of this story.