Guben/Gubin

Lorenz Kienzle

Guben/Gubin - After the End of World War II the german town Guben had been divided into the german/polish town Guben/Gubin. The river Neisse, which separates it, had become the heavily guarded “frontier” between the “rich” European Commune and “poor” Eastern Europe. With the eastward enlargement of the EC in May 2004, this border should become more open and the town could grow together again.


In Gubin the ruin of the former cathedral reminds that there once was an old town center, that had been completely destroyed. The now german part Guben has once been the industrial suburb, famous for its production of textiles, wool and especially hats. It’s last hat factory had been Lorenz Kienzle’s photographic subject, until it closed down in the beginning of the year 2000. But he continued visiting the town, meeting the now unemployed hatmakers and crossed the border to look at the polish side. He started to photograph buildings, the landscape and the inhabitants, looking for parallels, trying to connect the two towns with his pictures and to create his own picture of a town, that once belonged together.


There are many plans today, how to build more bridges not only over the river, but to change the minds of people, who often are full of prejudices against their neighbours on the other side. This project is Lorenz Kienzle’s own bridge.

venue: Gwynne Warehouse Gallery