Taking as their starting point the historical significance of Augustusplatz (formerly Karl-Marx-Platz) for the political upheaval of 1989, its consequences and today’s uses within the culture of remembrance, students from HGB Leipzig set out in search of traces in the run-up to the Leipzig Festival of Lights: How visible to the public are the square’s various historical layers, such as the site of the Karl Marx relief during the GDR era? How do those born after 1989 view differences and stereotypical images between East and West? How is it possible to come together even amid disunity and stand up for shared values? The installations encouraged reflection on 1989 and on questions that remain open today.
Disunited/United
Partner project with the Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig
Video installations and sculptural installation
at the Paulinum, Augustusplatz
Disunited/United at a glance
Portraits of the contributors
Founded in 1764, the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst/Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig in Leipzig is one of the oldest state art academies in Germany. Around 600 students are currently enrolled in the four degree programmes Painting/Printmaking, Book Art/Graphic Design, Photography and Media Art.
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Tianxu Liu (*1992 in Tianjin/China) studies in the Installation and Space class.
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Merlin Rainer (*2000 in Potsdam) studies painting.
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Eszter Szöke (*1996 in Wachtendonk) studies in the Installation and Space class.
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Samuel Ellinghoven (*1997 in Munich) studies in the class for Installation and Space.
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Juliane Jaschnow (*1989 in Karl-Marx-Stadt) is a filmmaker and artist and teaches at HGB Leipzig.
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Dieter Daniels (*1957 in Bonn) is an art historian and media theorist, Professor of Art History and Media Theory at HGB Leipzig (1993-2024).