Vietnam. Art. GDR. Reclaiming Solidarity

An exhibition exploring international solidarity within artistic exchange between Vietnam and the GDR, from the Vietnam War era through contemporary practice. About The exhibition explores the theme of international solidarity within the context of artistic exchange between Vietnam and the GDR. This political guiding principle became particularly evident during the Vietnam War, which prompted widespread expressions of solidarity in the GDR and inspired a diverse range of artistic production. At the same time, the exhibition turns its attention to the lived realities of Vietnamese contract workers, highlighting how contemporary artists critically engage with these experiences. A closer examination of these entanglements opens up a space for discourse on power relations, asymmetrical projections, cultural ascriptions, and individual agency. Drawing on selected works from the GDR and the present day, the exhibition explores how solidarity is expressed in art, while also inviting reflection on the very notion of solidarity itself. The presentation is complemented by works from the Kunstsammlung der Berliner Volksbank, which situate the exhibited pieces within a broader context of socialist image production, or enter into a dialogue with them.