English translations in alphabetical order by artist
Bernhard Kretzschmar (1889–1972)
Selbstbildnis mit Masken, 1954 / Self Portrait with Masks, 1954
To stand by one’s own identity is a basic human conflict, which I could recognize in Bernhard Kretzschmar’s self-portrait. He depicts himself with detailed painted masks. On the one hand, they possibly symbolize his artistic work and creativity, on the other hand they form a metaphor for artificially staged versions of ourselves and are formed in a perfectionist way. At the same time, the artist’s upright posture seems self-confident and his facial expressions sceptical. It suggests that he was a critically thinking, opinionated person.
The view from outside: Angelina Kärcher, 17, Dr. Wilhelm André Academic High School, Chemnitz
Otto Müller-Eibenstock (1898–1986)
Erzgebirgische Häuser, um 1948 / Erz Mountains Houses, ca. 1948
I’m going back.
Back to a world I call home.
But something is different.
No.
Something feels too familiar.
Too out of date.
I find myself falling into the role of an old me.
And yet, moving to another city was supposed to do just the opposite.
There I finally felt liberated from everything that prevented me from developing further in my homeland.
I reinvented myself.
Slowly a new, improved version of myself grew up.
At least I thought so.
When do I decide to replace old with new for good?
What’s stopping me?
The view from outside: Hannah, 19, volunteer FSJ Culture