East TalkRunde Residents Share Experiences
In a poignant and powerful exhibition, photographer Christiane Eisler, Dipl.-Photographer, presents a unique collection of photographs and portraits of former inmates of East Germany's youth work camps decades later. The exhibition, titled "The Youth of the Others," is a collaborative effort with journalist Gundula Lasch.
The exhibition aims to bring the daily life of the time closer and more shareable, while also shedding light on the profound effects of that time on the entire lives of the then very young protagonists. The exhibition is not just a historical document but a testament to the resilience and courage of these women.
Christiane Eisler, known for her work on East German history, particularly focusing on the experiences of women in youth work camps, has dedicated her career to uncovering personal testimonies and providing a voice to women who suffered in these camps. These institutions, part of special homes intended for the re-education of children and young people deemed difficult to educate, were often punitive and repressive mechanisms of the German Democratic Republic (GDR).
Eisler's work is a significant contribution to the understanding of gender, oppression, and resistance in East Germany. Through films, interviews, and historical research, she enriches the historiography of the GDR with feminist perspectives.
The exhibition is currently being shared live at Frauenkultur Leipzig, Soziokulturelles Zentrum, Windscheidstr. 51, 04277 Leipzig. A talk-round with Christiane Eisler will take place on Tuesday, 08.07.2025 from 18:00 to 20:00 Uhr. Further talk-rounds live under the title "Zeitzeuginnen Ost" will take place in the coming months, with the next date being 24.08.2025 with SABINE MARUSCHKE. Admission to the talk-rounds is at your own discretion.
For those interested in learning more about Christiane Eisler's work, her freelance work in the 1980s, and her groundbreaking documentation of the lives of girls in the youth work camp, including their three-shift system work in the Volltuchwerk, the website for Frauenkultur Leipzig is www.frauenkultur-leipzig.de. Eisler's work challenges the stereotypical attributions of the youth work camps by making her biographical life journeys public and sharing them live.
- The exhibition "The Youth of the Others" is not limited to being a historical document; it also serves as a testament to the resilience and courage of women involved in health-and-wellness concerns, such as womens-health issues, during East Germany's time.
- Christiane Eisler's work extends beyond science and captures the fashion-and-beauty and lifestyle aspects of the lives of the young women she focuses on, including their work in home-and-garden settings like the Volltuchwerk.
- The collaborative effort between photographer Christiane Eisler and journalist Gundula Lasch sheds light on the profound impacts of the past on relationships and personal journeys, making it a relevant topic for those interested in understanding gender and oppression in East Germany.
- For those eager to delve deeper into Christiane Eisler's work and her journey as a freelancer, documentary-maker, and advocate for women's rights, visit the website Frauenkultur Leipzig (www.frauenkultur-leipzig.de) and explore her groundbreaking contributions to the field of women's health.
