At the Priory Undercroft: Photographs from Dresden

Christine and Gunter Starke are renowned photographers from our partner city of Dresden  where they have been documenting people and places for over  45 years. They are visiting Coventry this month and in advance they sent over sets of photographs which are now on show in the LTB’s St Mary Priory Undercroft near the cathedral.

Christine and Gunter’s particular concern has been to show change over time. Most of this work has focused on the Neustadt area in which they live.   Although Neustadt means ‘new city’ many of the buildings here date back to the rise of Dresden in the late nineteenth century and were left standing as Neustadt was not the main target of the bombing in the second world war. The Neustadt area has had, and continues to have, a reputation for attracting  people involved in the creative industries as well as students, pensioners and independent workers looking for more modest rents. 

In what is really a love letter to Neustadt, they have photographed local people in and around their houses in Neustadt, the main body of work covering 1978 until 1992. The viewer can make of these photos what they will. In my case what is striking is that the surrounding rooms or the streets outside often seem shabby but the people themselves express perhaps pride, at least carry a dignity, in who they are.

Photographs from ‘old’ Neustadt.

Another set of photos shows people in Neustadt before and after the collapse of the DDR at their places of work.  (Some background here: Dresden was part of the old German Democratic Republic (DDR) which became integrated into Federal Republic of Germany in 1990.  German people often refer to this period of DDR collapse as Die Wende or the ‘Turning Point’). Again the photos are not easy to read. These are not portraits of downtrodden souls suddenly becoming liberated, even if the shops, offices and printing works in the later photos look new and shiny. Was something missed in the process of change?  

Printing House Belzing 1988 and 1992

A further set of photographs reference the last days of the DDR. Gunter explains in the text surrounding the photos that he was given permission for an ‘installation’ outside the town hall in 1989 and searched his archive for pictures of ‘harmless things, buses, tram stops and benches (but) their state of disrepair paints a gruesome picture.  Nothing that belongs to us works. I felt encouraged to share the photos of these things right where the people are in front of the town hall.’

Unsurprisingly, this installation proved controversial and he photographed people’s reactions to as well as police violence against nearby protesters. (Indeed, Dresden and nearby Leipzig, were major foci for the demonstrations against the DDR regime leading the Die Wende and the opening of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989.)

Christine and Gunter are interested in buildings as well as people. In a series of photographs, Christine looks at the renovation of the old municipal warehouse, and its change of use into a modern hotel (this is the ‘Maritim’ if you are looking for a distinctive place to stay).  Part of the renovation involved dismantling two storeys of the old building as they were beyond repair and strengthening the whole structure with concrete pillars.  Even if you have a limited interest in architecture this was a fascinating record of change and carried a larger symbolism: the movement from industry to services which we have all seen and experienced in Europe. 

Christine explained that through their work they hoped to achieve a record of what was, what has changed and how it has changed.  As such, it was an inspired decision to show the photos at the Undercroft which was part of the old priory (it was probably used for storing food, and living accommodation for the monks – something referenced by the startling life-size monk mannikins scattered around the room). The exhibition space is roomy but the photographs do not get lost within it. The work is provocative in Dresden itself and people have responded with interest, recognition, and at times indifference.  The photos have further engaged the attention of professionals interested in sociology and monument preservation. But, it is up to you to take from it what you can. 

The exhibition, which is supported by Coventry German Circle and Coventry Association for International Friendship, runs from 2- 28 October and entry is free. If closed you can get an entry code from the nearby Priory Visitor Centre (‘PVC’) 6 Priory Row.

Thanks to Alan, Mark and Dave for their work in mounting the exhibition and to Monika and Nikolai’s ceaseless work in promoting Coventry – Dresden friendship.  

Photos are taken with permission from Gunter Starke’s web site:  https://www.guenterstarke-foto.de  All photographs are copyright of Gunter and Christine Starke.