Dear reader,

Anyone expecting a melancholic epitaph for a bygone era in my book "Art & Literature in East Germany - Resistance Between the Lines" will be disappointed. I myself grew up in East Germany and spent half of my life there. There is nothing politically desirable about that time, and nothing of it should be repeated. The other half I spent in united Germany, and while some aspects could have been better, many were indeed better. One had the freedom to adapt or to drift through the years. That seems to be changing lately. What needs to be said sometimes becomes unspeakable. Thoughts must occasionally be rethought. Some words withdraw back between the lines and must be found there.

In this context, I want to introduce you to my book - a collection of stories and history about courage, resistance, and creativity during a time of oppression and political change. "Art & Literature in East Germany - Resistance Between the Lines" is a book that captures the secret voices of the artists who lived and worked during the time of the German Democratic Republic. Their stories were often told in secret, hidden between the lines of their works and away from the eyes of censors. They may serve as examples of people who dared to think the unthinkable and speak the unspeakable, despite speech and thought prohibitions.

East Germany was marked by an ideological dictatorship in which artists faced numerous challenges.

In this book, we will immerse ourselves in the world of East German art, which provides insight into the lives of artists who confronted the painful realities of everyday life with their creativity and resistance. The stories you will read here are a mixture of personal experiences, historical events, and art historical analysis. They tell of the difficulties artists faced in East Germany and the innovative methods they used to convey their messages nonetheless.

The theater also became a stage for resistance. Directors like Heiner Müller, Christoph Schroth, and Frank Castorf staged plays that contained political commentary between the lines. They used the medium of theater to reveal the truths behind the masks and express the despair and resistance of people in East Germany.

However, beyond these well-known names, there are many untold stories waiting to be discovered.

As a reader, you now have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of art in East Germany, to hear the voices of the artists, and to discover the diversity of their works. Dive into the thoughts and emotions embedded in every brushstroke, every line, and every note. Be prepared to be surprised, inspired, and moved.

I wish you a fascinating journey through the art and literature of East Germany, a journey that reminds us that human creativity and the desire for freedom are stronger than any oppression. Let us together tell the stories hidden between the lines and honor the resistance of these artists.

Thank you for holding this book in your hands.

Yours sincerely,
Hermann Selchow