©Robert Conrad, Pariser Platz, East Berlin with view to Brandenburg Gate and the Wall,1988

The fall of the Berlin Wall took place 30 years ago this month and when we step back to November 9th, 1989, the world witnessed “a pivotal event in history which marked the falling of the Iron Curtain. The fall of the inner German border took place shortly afterwards. An end to the Cold War was declared at the Malta Summit three weeks later, and the reunification of Germany took place during the following year.”

©Robert Conrad, East Berlin GDR border control patrol car on the death strip. The Wall cutting across Egon-Schultz street,1990

Robert Conrad was born in Greifswald in 1962. In the mid-80s he moved to Berlin.  His regime-critical political stance coalesced with a passion for architecture and photography; documenting historical buildings before they would disappear altogether became Robert Conrad’s mission.

Throughout the 80s he was kept under observation by the STASI as an undesirable regime critic. As a result of this he was barred from studying architecture at university and had to survive on casual manual labour. After the fall of the GDR he did eventually study architecture at Berlin University.

Since 2000 Robert Conrad has been working full time as a photographer. In his work he mainly focuses on architecture and urban landscapes. He lives and works in Berlin

Robert Conrad is represented internationally by Albumen Gallery

The Wall cutting across Egon-Schultz street, East Berlin,1990

My interest in photography was influenced and shaped by growing up in the authoritarian socialist  GDR, and a passion for architecture.  Concern for neglected historical architecture and a growing regime critical attitude coalesced and found expression in photography.                 

In the 80s the medieval centre of my hometown, the Hanse Town Greifswald was destroyed through extensive deconstruction. I started using the camera to document old buildings. Photographing old buildings became a mission to at least pass on two-dimensional representations of the lost architecture. The camera became an instrument of protest against the irreplaceable loss of  historical town centres.

These photographic activities were seen as unwelcome and regime critical and consequently the authorities systematically barred me from going to university. Eventually, after the collapse of the GDR I studied architecture at Berlin University.

For me, photographing buildings isn’t merely an exercise of aesthetic expression or visual documentation of architects’ work. Particularly, photographing historical public buildings, industrial or military installations that may have outlived their purpose is a form of reflection on how we deal with the past in the context of our time and the future.  Questions of state security, surveillance and prosecution of suspected criminals are as relevant for democracy today as ever – particularly in our time of international terrorism and big data.

For me, photography becomes a tool for ‘forensic observation’. It is more about changing political and aesthetic perspectives than one-dimensional positions on ‘Good’ or ‘Evil’. But looking at the recurring images of walls, barriers, checkpoints, prisons and army barracks I realise of course that there is a general message that I would like to convey; and that is: People, appreciate that many types of state repression are a thing of the past and that the barriers are gone! Protect this hard won freedom; maintain solidarity and keep a critical watch on governments – in Europe and all over the world! – Robert Conrad

©Robert Conrad, West Berlin viewing tower at Dannenwalder Weg. In the backgroiund watchtower on death strip,1990

©Robert Conrad, Berlin Wall near Nennhauser Damm, East Berlin, 1988

©Robert Conrad,The Wall near Rudower Chaussee, East Berlin,1989

©Robert Conrad, ‘Deutschland einig Vaterland’ grafitti on wall segment.near East Berlin Heinrich- Haiine-Straße Checkpoint, 1990

©Robert Conrad, Death strip on Lindenstraße, East Berlin, 1990

©Robert Conrad,Death strip on Zimmerstraße, East Berlin. In the background office building of Axel- Springer publishing house in West Berlin, 1990

©Robert Conrad, Death strip between Leipziger Straße and Pariser Platz (East Berlin) with mound covering Hitler’s bunker, 1990

©Robert Conrad, East Berlin Administration notice in the Nordbahnhof pedestrian tunnel. Paradoxically, ‘Demokratischer Sektor’ refers to East Berlin, 1990

©Robert Conrad, Telephone booth on the platform of Underground station Französische Straße. Underground stations under East Berlin territory were sealed of by the GDR authorities, 1990

©Robert Conrad, Berlin Wall along Stahnsdorfer Straße, East Berlin, 1988

©Robert Conrad, Berlin Wall along Schwedter Straße, East Berlin, 1988