Weißer Regen ( White Rain),2024
"The Federal Republic of Germany is one thing, the German Democratic Republic is another, a completely different thing. As long as there are hostilities and aggressions from over there, we must keep the enemy image alive."
—Karl-Eduard von Schnitzler, Chief Commentator on East German television, Schwarzer Kanal, 16th October 1989.
My visit to Potsdam’s Russian Colony, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, in spring 2023 evoked a deep sense of nostalgia, reminding me of my childhood in the GDR. Surrounded by wooden houses, fruit orchards, and the aroma of Russian cuisine, I was transported back to a time when Russian literature and culture were integral to our education and ideology. However, this nostalgia clashed with my profound dismay over Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the lingering support for Russia in East Germany, even 35 years after the Berlin Wall fell.
In the GDR, Russian literature was both a cultural treasure and a tool for ideological indoctrination, fostering a stark us and them mindset. We were taught to see the West as adversaries of socialism, a doctrine that dictated strict societal norms: "Whoever is not with us is against us."
In response to these conflicting emotions, I began destroying books by Russian authors, rolling up the pages—a symbolic act that led to the creation of “Weißer Regen” (White Rain). This work represents the erasure of meaning through the destruction of the written word. By using white paint to obscure the text while leaving the original content intact, I explore the concept of whitewashing—glossing over, cancelling out, and silencing once-meaningful phrases.
The title "Weißer Regen" is borrowed from Aitmatov's work, which blends realism and symbolism to explore profound changes in Soviet society. The white rain symbolises purity, renewal, and the loss of traditional ways of life.
By projecting slides—used as educational materials on gamma radiation during 'civil defence' lessons—onto these paper rolls, I revisit the military indoctrination of my youth. The images depicting the effects of chemical warfare on the human body serve as a stark reminder of Cold War-era brainwashing. The exploration of enemy imagery, the manipulation of truth, and the fostering of hatred towards 'the other' strongly resonate with the concept of societies being subjected to catastrophic change and division. "Weißer Regen" reflects on the enduring impact of ideological conflicts, even after so much time has passed.
Option 1: image size 80X60cm, Giclée ink jet print on INNOVA White Matte 285g mounted on dibond or aluminium, and installed with split batten fixings, giving the prints a floating appearance on the wall
Option 2: involves fabricating of 4 frames measuring 80 x 60 cm, each containing 400 paper rolls made from book pages, arranged in rows on the frame. Together, these rolls display a single transparent image of gamma radiation affixed to them.
—Karl-Eduard von Schnitzler, Chief Commentator on East German television, Schwarzer Kanal, 16th October 1989.
My visit to Potsdam’s Russian Colony, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, in spring 2023 evoked a deep sense of nostalgia, reminding me of my childhood in the GDR. Surrounded by wooden houses, fruit orchards, and the aroma of Russian cuisine, I was transported back to a time when Russian literature and culture were integral to our education and ideology. However, this nostalgia clashed with my profound dismay over Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the lingering support for Russia in East Germany, even 35 years after the Berlin Wall fell.
In the GDR, Russian literature was both a cultural treasure and a tool for ideological indoctrination, fostering a stark us and them mindset. We were taught to see the West as adversaries of socialism, a doctrine that dictated strict societal norms: "Whoever is not with us is against us."
In response to these conflicting emotions, I began destroying books by Russian authors, rolling up the pages—a symbolic act that led to the creation of “Weißer Regen” (White Rain). This work represents the erasure of meaning through the destruction of the written word. By using white paint to obscure the text while leaving the original content intact, I explore the concept of whitewashing—glossing over, cancelling out, and silencing once-meaningful phrases.
The title "Weißer Regen" is borrowed from Aitmatov's work, which blends realism and symbolism to explore profound changes in Soviet society. The white rain symbolises purity, renewal, and the loss of traditional ways of life.
By projecting slides—used as educational materials on gamma radiation during 'civil defence' lessons—onto these paper rolls, I revisit the military indoctrination of my youth. The images depicting the effects of chemical warfare on the human body serve as a stark reminder of Cold War-era brainwashing. The exploration of enemy imagery, the manipulation of truth, and the fostering of hatred towards 'the other' strongly resonate with the concept of societies being subjected to catastrophic change and division. "Weißer Regen" reflects on the enduring impact of ideological conflicts, even after so much time has passed.
Option 1: image size 80X60cm, Giclée ink jet print on INNOVA White Matte 285g mounted on dibond or aluminium, and installed with split batten fixings, giving the prints a floating appearance on the wall
Option 2: involves fabricating of 4 frames measuring 80 x 60 cm, each containing 400 paper rolls made from book pages, arranged in rows on the frame. Together, these rolls display a single transparent image of gamma radiation affixed to them.
