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The NSDAP and SED represent two of the darkest chapters in German history. The ghosts and guilt from actions taken generations ago continue to haunt the German people today. In a world increasingly focused on combating racism and promoting the idea that individuals should be judged beyond their inherent attributes, one might question why this guilt remains so localized. Additionally, the stories of thousands of resistance members, who faced rampant suppression, are often forgotten, their memories gathering dust in history books and fading from public consciousness.
Historical Prison Museums serve as vital links to this past, allowing us to physically connect with the innocent lives imprisoned within their walls. They also provide crucial lessons for today’s lawmakers, emphasizing the importance of their responsibilities and the need to learn from past mistakes.
In my visits to over a dozen Historical Prison Museums over the past two years, I encountered numerous overlooked stories that could reshape our understanding of history and inform our present and future. While it’s encouraging to see significant resources allocated to these museums by cultural foundations, it is disheartening to witness the general disinterest and low visitor numbers.
My installation, “Vergessene Ecken,” pays tribute to political prisoners and their fates. It features glimpses from inside various Prison Museums in Potsdam, projected in an immersive life-size format on adjoining walls. The audio begins and ends with the Estonian poem “Good Night,” sung by political prisoners to remain hopeful during their incarceration. In between, the piece creatively captures the ambient sounds that might have filled the spaces when they were operational, including footsteps recorded on-site, enhancing the experience with a sense of spatial awareness and echoing the weight of their stories.
Jaydeep Chug is an architect from India with a great interest in Contemporary Media Arts and World War II history. Currently in Stuttgart, he works in a studio focussing on museum renovation and exhibition design.
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