Visual Arts

Throughout the Cold War, life behind the Berlin Wall was viewed by the west as being full of secrecy, mystery and suspicion.

But this perception is set to be challenged by a new photographic exhibition, coming to Focal Point Gallery in Southend.

Leipzig, 1956 - captured by Ursula Arnold

'Do Not Refreeze' includes images from nine photographers, including work by Sibylle Bergmann, Maria Sewcz and Ursula Arnold.

As the exhibition's curator Matthew Shaul explains, these are names that are largely unknown to the wider world: "These photographers were 'frozen' out of post-war art history as a result of being almost 'invisible'".

Unlike disciplines such as painting and sculpture, photography in East Germany wasn't considered to be a visual art form. This, according to Matthew, had a number of consequences on the country's photographers: "On one hand it freed them up enormously to make images and produce a series of pictures of their choice.

"But equally they were not encouraged to have exhibitions and not accorded similar status to their colleagues in painting and sculpture," he adds.

But, as Matthew explains, the exhibition will show the country in a new light: "It is a completely new terrain. It's a window on a society that was languished behind the Berlin Wall that was closed out to the west.

"There was a remarkable irony and humour in the way that people lived. I think we in the west had this impression of the Berlin Wall being so monolithic; it was very difficult to imagine how anyone could have lived anything like a normal life behind it", he adds.

Muritz, 1956 - by Arno Fischer

"But this exhibition shows that did happen and that by being behind the Berlin Wall, and being away from the temptations of the west and capitalism, there was a great deal of charm and humour in the way that people lived their lives," the exhibition's curator continues.

"All of this was incredibly controversial because it showed a side of society that the government of East German would not acknowledge even existed."

To hear more from curator Matthew Shaul, click on the link below.

'Do Not Refreeze' can be seen at Focal Point Gallery in Southend from Saturday, 26, January until Saturday, 8, March.