Exhibition shows Chemnitz as a city in transition
From 2 October 2015, exhibition at Chemnitz Neumarkt to mark 25 years of German reunification: "A city in transition. How Karl-Marx-Stadt became Chemnitz"
What did Chemnitz look like 25 years ago? What has happened in our city since the peaceful revolution, reunification and in the past 25 years? A journey back in time to 1990, including a return ticket to 2015, is now made possible by a new exhibition entitled "A city in transition. How Karl-Marx-Stadt became Chemnitz", which will be on display at Chemnitz Neumarkt from 2 October to 18 October.
Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig: "There are many exciting stories to tell from the past 25 years in our city. From the renaming of the city initiated by citizens, the construction of a new city centre, the resurgence of industry to the many personal stories. The exhibition has put together an interesting spectrum of old and new and also makes clear what Chemnitz can do today: Chemnitz offers space for ideas and Chemnitz gets down to business. This is precisely why Chemnitz is what it is today - a success story of reunification."
Leisure, living, work - change permeates all areas
30 panels the size of a building fence compare old photos with today's views and show various facets of development over the past 25 years. And not just in the area of urban development, but also in the leisure, living and education sectors.
In the centre, the heart of the exhibition, the transformation of the city centre becomes visible. Aerial photographs and a view from the High Tower show which construction sites have been given new life. Renovated and converted buildings such as the Tietz and the former Schocken, now the Chemnitz State Museum of Archaeology, are not to be missed. Johannisplatz, the railway station and the opera house are central squares that have changed considerably in appearance. It is also worth taking a look at allotment gardens, workplaces and leisure areas. People's enthusiasm for sport can be seen just as much as today's successful industry.
Representative of the many people in our city who are changing places and realising projects with creativity and commitment, movers and shakers from the city marketing campaign "The city is me" also have their say on Chemnitz. These include, for example, Küchwaldbühne e. V., Arthur e. V., Spinnerei e. V., IMK Automotive, master carpenter Marco Lohmann and Schwimm-Club Chemnitz von 1892 e. V.
The exhibition is supported by the funding programme of the Free State of Saxony "25 Years of German Unity and the Free State of Saxony".
The Chemnitz agency Revolte GmbH was commissioned with the concept and layout under the direction of the Mayor's Office of the City of Chemnitz. The Chemnitz City Archive, Freie Presse Verlag, Chemnitz University of Technology, Chemnitz Hospital, Chemnitz Environmental Centre, Brühlbüro, GGG, CAWG, Chemnitzer Schulmodell, Niles Simmons Industrieanlagen GmbH, Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH, Rebel Art, Arthur e. V., IMK Automotive, Tischlerei E. V., E. V., the Chemnitz School Model and the Chemnitz University of Applied Sciences have all contributed to the exhibition, IMK Automotive, Tischlerei Ehm, master carpenter Billard Krause, Fleischerei Fritzsche & Einert, Edeka, Jo Hagen, Die Arbeitslosen Bauarbeiter, DJ Ron, Schwimm-Club Chemnitz von 1892 e. V., Die Rennmacher, the Kosmonaut Festival, the Parkeisenbahn Chemnitz, the Küchwaldbühne e. V., the Förderverein Sächsisches Industriemuseum Chemnitz, the Spinnerei e. V., the photographers: Bernd Proksch, Werner Noll, Wolfgang Ebert, Matthias Lippmann, Karl Wagner, Harry Härtel, Andreas Seidel, Klaus Jedicka, Fritz Bruckner, Thomas Stiegler, Matthias Metzler, Wolfgang Schmidt, Dirk Hanus, Sascha Reich, Dieter Wuschanski, Uwe Kaufmann, Thomas Neubert, Verein IG - Modellbahn Chemnitz and Heimatverein Euba e. V.
Travelling exhibition can be seen at other locations in Chemnitz and on the Internet
From 19 October, the exhibition will be on display at other locations, for example in Moritzhof, in front of Tietz and on the station forecourt. It can also be used by schools and other interested institutions.
The pictures from the exhibition will also be shown on the internet platform www.die-stadt-bin-ich.de/wendegeschichten/ from next week. So if you don't have time to visit Chemnitz city centre, you can jump 25 years into the past with a click.
The website has been collecting stories and memories from the peaceful revolution to German reunification since November 2014. In addition to eyewitness accounts and editorial contributions, there are also event listings and a chronicle of the events of 25 years ago.