In 1978, the illustrated book “Die Drushba-Trasse”, published by the Central Council of the FDJ in the GDR publishing house “Neues Leben”, was published. The authors are Peter Jacobs (text) and the photographer Thomas Billhardt. The book describes and celebrates the “project of the century of the GDR”, the construction of the natural gas pipeline on the territory of the then Soviet Union.

The fact that the GDR construction section was located in what is now Ukraine gives the project a special dimension against the backdrop of the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine. The topics of energy supply, dependence on Russian oil and gas, and ecological aspects also touch on central and, above all, very topical issues. Reports of attacks on the Druzhba route are becoming more frequent. The economic industrial project has been a political one from the very beginning. It was not only intended to secure the energy supply of the GDR, the pipeline also served the propagandistic purpose of symbolizing the “unbreakable friendship with the peoples of the Soviet Union”.

On the basis of Billhardt’s motifs, the exhibition aims to show the tension between propagandistic and documentary representation.

exhibition: Michael Biedowicz