Berndt Johannsen
1918 Kreuzweg 2018
From April 29 to July 1, 2018, the Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz – Schloßbergmuseum in cooperation with the Romanesque Cultural Studies of the TU Chemnitz will show works by the artist Berndt Johannsen (*1951, Weißenfels). In two series of overpainted photographs, Black White Red and Black Red Gold, Johannsen poses the question of the ability of societies, and in particular of the individual, to achieve peace. The photographs are complemented by sculptures.
Berndt Johannsen, who has worked as a freelance painter and sculptor since 1994, studied computer science at the Technical University of Dresden and then studied painting and graphics at the Academy of Art. In 1979 he founded the artist group Krücke with Rainer Sandner, Bernd Günther Morgenrot and Thomas Etienne. In 1982 Johannsen refused the reserve service. Before his imprisonment he handed over a “Way of the Cross” to the parish of St. Marien in Schönebeck (Elbe). Later the artist left for the West. For Chemnitz he now created the two “crossroads” Black White Red and Black Red Gold, thus continuing this early work.
In 2013 Ulrike Brummert from the Romanesque Cultural Studies of the TU Chemnitz called the project 14-18 WAS WAS. Shared Memories for Cultural Historical Reflection on the First World War into being. With various partners from universities and the region, she initiates exhibitions, colloquia and the monthly vernissages Mit Licht geschossen. The Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz – Schloßbergmuseum has become an important partner in this interdisciplinary project. In the future, collage concerts with students of the TU Chemnitz, further exhibitions and performances will follow for the Chemnitz Peace Day 2019. In addition, there are plans for publications to evaluate the results.
