#29: Matthias BAADER Holst

“Matthias” BAADER Holst (1962 – 1990) was one of the GDR’s most interesting underground poets. He worked as a poet, draftsman, filmmaker, publisher and performer. Ultimately, and in retrospect, he was probably the GDR’s only true Punk-Dadaist. His influence on writers, musicians and artists from the former GDR has been a lasting one to date. Unfortunately, his work failed to become sufficiently widely known because of his tragic early death, but its complexity and focus means it has lost none of its power and significance. An exhibition summing up every aspect of his oeuvre is both a rediscovery and a fresh presentation, therefore. It also permits insights into a different, unfamiliar culture in the GDR.

Peter Lang gives an introduction to “Matthias” BAADER Holst’s work and shows:

BAADER in Leipzig, 1989, 4:00 min
Jörg Herold together with Matthias BAADER Holst
(courtesy Galerie Eigen + Art, Leipzig und Berlin)

Briefe an die Jugend des Jahres “2017”, GDR 1990, R: Erich Maas, 45:00 min
(courtesy Ex.Oriente.Lux, Experimental Filmarchiv Ost)

See also: DHM Deutsches Historische Museum: boheme und diktatur in der ddr (german)

Many thanks to the initiators of this screening: Peter Lang (Berlin) and Moritz Götze (Halle/Saale).