Dirk Reinartz (1947–2004) shaped reportage and documentary photography in Germany as few photographers have before or since. Drawing from his expansive body of work, No Beautiful Land presents a curated selection of images from the archives of the F.C. Gundlach Foundation and the Deutsche Fotothek Dresden at f³ – freiraum für fotografie. The exhibition examines German identity in all its contradictions and historical dimensions, tracing its transformation after 1989. In light of recent state elections in eastern Germany, the exhibition reveals the historical continuities that echo into our present moment.

A substantial portion of Dirk Reinartz's photographic work was commissioned: his images, published regularly between 1971 and 2004 in prestigious magazines including Stern, Merian, ZEITmagazin, and art, and distributed through the VISUM picture agency, reached an audience of unprecedented scale. Beyond these assignments, Reinartz pursued independent series, notably the book project Kein schöner Land (No Beautiful Land, 1978–1987)—a sweeping visual essay distilling his vision of the German character from two decades of work. Drawing on a nineteenth-century folk song, reinterpreted with irony for both book and exhibition, the title captures the historical moment with remarkable precision, and the exhibition reclaims this resonant phrase once again.

Throughout his career, Dirk Reinartz investigated the psychological and emotional dimensions of his subject, exploring socio-political shifts and cultural peculiarities—particularly at the borders where two German states met. An autobiographical slide presentation accompanies the exhibition, while facsimiles of the original publications annotate the photographs on display.

Opening: Thursday, December 5, 2024, 7 p.m. | Free admission!
Welcome remarks by Katharina Mouratidi (Artistic Director, f³ – freiraum für fotografie). Speakers: Sebastian Lux and Franziska Mecklenburg (F.C. Gundlach Foundation).

f³ – freiraum für fotografie
Waldemarstraße 17
10179 Berlin
Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 1 p.m.–7 p.m.

www.fhochdrei.org