Gesichtzeigen Sculpture

Masked and revealed, the Gesichtzeigen sculpture at the Minsk Kunsthaus in Potsdam demands our attention. The sculpture, created by Wolfgang Mattheuer, is more than just bronze; it’s a powerful statement frozen in time. The Gesichtzeigen, meaning “Showing Face,” depicts the artist himself, a sheep mask partially obscuring his features. He holds the mask with his left hand, while his right hand is clenched into a fist. This duality, the mask and the fist, speaks volumes about the complexities of life in East Germany under communist rule. Mattheuer began work on the plaster model for the “Maskenmann” (Mask Man), as it was initially titled, in 1980. It was later renamed “Maskenmann / Gesichtzeigen” in a nod to the Leipzig Monday demonstrations. The sculpture poignantly reflects the charade many citizens in the GDR felt compelled to perform. The mask represents the concealment of true thoughts and feelings, a necessary act of self-preservation in a society where dissent was dangerous. The fist, however, hints at the simmering resistance beneath the surface, the yearning for open expression and change. This sculpture, acquired by Hasso Plattner in 2022, overlooks Potsdam’s urban landscape, a silent witness to the city’s GDR past. Seven bronze casts of this evocative artwork exist, scattered across Germany. Each one serves as a reminder of the struggles and resilience of those who lived under communist rule, a testament to the courage it takes to show one’s true face.