PLATTFORM 3: DIESE DDR

Platform 3 entices with a timetable change: in the rear third of the central hall, the exhibition space also presents the work of young photographers beyond the larger exhibition and festival projects. Whether discovered in passing or specifically targeted, Platform 3 is an uncomplicated and easily accessible place to browse and explore. It bridges waiting times and creates connections in the exploration of contemporary photography.

At our next stop, we get to see the work "This GDR" by Sophie Nawova Meyer. Who are we talking to and about when we (re)write East German history before reunification? "This GDR" is a visual insight into the realities of life for Black GDR citizens. In contrast to the FRG, these were not only guest workers, but also foreign workers, including students and pupils from Angola, Ethiopia and Mozambique, for example. Although research into racism (and criticism of racism) and migration in the GDR has been conducted for decades, these stories usually go unheard. Depending on the location, urban or rural region, the respective privileges in terms of access to education and work as well as experiences of isolation and racism differ.

For the past two years, photographer Sophie Nawova Meyer has been exploring the stories of Black people from the GDR and trying to awaken memories of the time before and after 1989.