German Unity Day 2024

A: I was born in the former GDR (1985 in Zwickau). I'm very familiar with the given topic and I think a lot about the unification and its complicated process. My goal was to depict an idealized depiction of reunification by showing togetherness, taking true interest in each other, sharing each other's life stories, striving for equality, education, celebrating, playing together and spreading good vibes.

I always start with doing research, even when I'm familiar with the topic. I try to find new associations to create new and uncommon ideas. When I think I found something, I start with very rough pencil sketches to see if the concept works or not. When I think it does, I start sketching it out digitally in Photoshop which allows me to freely play around with the composition. When everything is in place and the composition feels right, I print out the digital sketch, put it on my tracing table, put a fresh piece of paper on top and trace the digital sketch with an ink pen. The thin ink pen sometimes gets caught in the paper and creates shaky, imperfect lines which make my drawings very distinct. When the lines and hatchings are done, I scan it and colorize it with Photoshop until it is finalized.

A: The main symbolic element of the reunification in my illustration are the two pieces of the wall on the left (West) and the right (East) side, since the wall is THE symbol of the division. There is a celebration happening and two people hang a festive banner from one wall to the other. With this, they literally connect the two pieces of the wall. The people between the wall pieces are meant to communicate good vibes. One kid gives another kid a balloon. A woman sprays a graffiti on the wall (graffiti is a huge part of the Berlin wall). A "Mauerpicker" (wall-picker) picks out little fragments. A little paper plane flies along the letters, which was meant to be a symbol for traveling and freedom for the East Germans.