DDR-Frauen ohne Filter
The Kunsthaus Apolda in Thuringia is presenting a posthumous retrospective of Günter Rössler, the East German photographer who defined nude and fashion photography in the GDR, on what would have been his 100th birthday. The exhibition features 130 works spanning six decades, including fashion assignments, reportage from his travels abroad, and large-format black-and-white nudes. It is curated by his widow and estate manager Kirsten Schlegel, and complemented by an audio guide in which Rössler's models reflect on their collaboration with him.
The exhibition matters because it reclaims Rössler's legacy as a pioneer who elevated photography to a serious art form within the restrictive cultural landscape of the GDR. His naturalistic, respectful portrayal of women—captured without retouching or artificiality—stands in stark contrast to today's homogenized influencer aesthetics, offering a timely commentary on authenticity and female self-confidence in visual culture.