Roger Loewig Plaque

Did a plaque ever inspire a poem? Here at the Roger Loewig Plaque in Berlin, that very question hangs in the air. This plaque commemorates Roger Loewig, a remarkable artist and writer who defied the oppressive regime of East Germany through his powerful drawings, paintings, and words. The Roger Loewig Plaque, affixed to his former residence at Wilhelmsruher Damm 120, serves as a poignant reminder of his struggle and artistic triumph. Roger Loewig was born in Striegau in 1930. He experienced the turmoil of World War II and the subsequent division of Germany. After fleeing the Soviet-occupied Polish territory his family had relocated to, Loewig eventually settled in East Berlin. He trained as a teacher, but his true passion lay in art. Loewig’s early work reflected the influence of Expressionism and Fauvism, styles condemned by the Nazis. He found inspiration in West Berlin’s museums, immersing himself in the forbidden art. This defiance, coupled with his critical portrayal of German history, particularly the Berlin Wall, led to his arrest in 1963. His privately organized exhibition at a priest’s house in Baumschulenweg, a meeting place for East and West Berlin students, was deemed “state-endangering propaganda.” He spent nearly a year in Stasi custody. Many of his artworks and writings were confiscated, lost forever. He was eventually released, thanks to intervention by the Evangelical Church. But Loewig’s ordeal was far from over. Barred from teaching, he became a freelance artist, working under difficult conditions. He retreated to Bad Belzig, finding solace and inspiration in the Fläming countryside. In 1972, Loewig and his partner, Creszentia Troike, finally escaped to West Berlin, finding refuge in an apartment overlooking the very wall that had symbolized his oppression. He continued to create, his art gaining recognition both nationally and internationally. In a remarkable turn of events, Loewig, the once-imprisoned artist, became the first German artist to exhibit his work at the Auschwitz State Museum. The Roger Loewig Plaque in Berlin marks not only his residence but also his resilience. His legacy lives on through his art, his words, and the quiet testament of this plaque.