Includes bibliographical references and index. "The first edition was published by the phographic collection of the Berlinische Galerie in collaboration with Dirk Nishen Verlag in 1987"--Colophon. Text of supplementary sheet written by Thomas Weski.
Summary:
In contrast to the consciously sober - but far from clinical images of his earlier series, Schmidt uses atmosphere-laden details with high-contrast black-and-white images of cityscapes, details in nature, and portraits in 'Waffenruhe' to create a subjective, leaden picture of a still-divided city. He no longer deploys the techniques of pure documentation, but brings together surprising combinations of images to express a generation's dystopian sense of life shortly before the fall of the Wall. Schmidt evokes a world of ruptures and absences that eschews a confident, comprehensive point of view. The images work with Schleef's text to create a brusque, entirely individual perspective on the fragility of human existence. The first edition, published in 1987 by the Berlin-based Dirk Nishen Verlag quickly sold out and continues to fetch high prices on the antiquarian book market. Thirty years later, 'Waffenruhe' is now being reprinted.
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