BERLIN JAN. 1990 AND LEIPZIG OCT. 1990
In January, we were a group of four going to Berlin to see the big change that had happened. The Wall had collapsed, After ww2 there had been a tense atmosphere between The Soviet Union and the 3 other allies – the so-called cold war. Finally, it looked like there was spring in the air.
On October 2. 1990 we same four went to Leipzig to document the last day of the DDR. Reunification between DDR and BRD was the day after. We focused on daily life on the streets, and I went to a dental clinic – we visited a Sport center where many of the DDR athletes were trained and doped – we spoke to and photographed some Russian soldiers – last but not least we visited a brown coal mine, where a colossal machinery was digging an enormous hole in the soil surface.
Our trips to Berlin and Leipzig 1990:
In January 1990, we were a group of four photographers embarked on a journey to Berlin to witness the profound changes brought about by the collapse of The Wall. This historic split had left a lingering tension in the air, a remnant of the Cold War that followed World War II – a time marked by a precarious relationship between the Soviet Union and the three other allied nations. As we stepped into the vibrant streets of Berlin, a refreshing sense of hope and renewal enveloped us; there was truly spring in the air, as we mingled with joyful people from both East and West, exchanging stories and laughter while capturing their expressions through our lenses. It was a stark contrast to the reserved demeanor of DDR residents, who had long been unaccustomed to voicing their thoughts and feelings.
Fast forward to October 2, 1990, we found ourselves in Leipzig, ready to document the final day of the DDR. With reunification between East and West Germany the next day, we immersed ourselves in the daily life unfolding on the streets. I ventured into a dental clinic, keen to observe the differences in healthcare compared to Denmark. Our exploration led us to a bustling sports center where many athletes from the DDR were trained and even doped. We engaged with several Russian soldiers, capturing both their solemnity and the bittersweet atmosphere of the time. Our journey that day also took us to a brown coal mine, where massive machinery clawed at the earth, creating an enormous gash in the land. Overall, in the DDR the air was thick with the unmistakable scent of burnt brown coal, a pungent reminder of the industrial legacy of the region. In advance we had decided to present our photographs as 30×40 cm postcards. We adorned them with vibrant stamps, declaring “Wir sind das Volk / We are the people,” along with special stamps commemorating the 40th anniversary of the DDR. Each postcard was then carefully postmarked on that historical date, October 2, 1990, at the local post office.
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