ABOUT

Loud punks, free-spirited hippies, and kissing couples in a sea of Trabbis. Defiant flags and demonstrators in front of the Palace of the Republic. Shadowy figures and drunkards in their favorite pubs and at folk festivals. People waiting patiently at bus stops. Harald Hauswald captures all of this with an honest and empathetic eye.

His photos show a deep connection to the people he photographs. They always keep their dignity, even as the world around them crumbles. His images reveal both the monotony and the quiet rhythm of life in the GDR, offering a glimpse into a closed-off world just before its collapse. He offers rare and powerful glimpses into everyday socialist life, showing East Berlin’s changing cityscape, opposition movements, artists, and youth subcultures.