Voices Mag

    Legal Notice

    This media station is part of the exhibition “The Blue Swords – Meissen in the GDR” (20.09.2025—22.02.2026) of the porcelain collection of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden at the Japanisches Palais and was conceived after an idea by Meghan McNamee.

     

    Concept: Jacob Franke, Meghan McNamee

    Editing: Elena Hertenstein, Sarah Felix, Jacob Franke, Meghan McNamee

    Image editing: Sarah Felix

     

    Translation: Valentin Sebastian Lorenz, Meghan McNamee

     

    Technological realization and support: XIMA Media GmbH

     

    A special thanks to Sylvia Braun of the company archive of the Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen GmbH for providing the historical photographs.

    Do you have any comments, suggestions or questions? Write us an email.
    Searching for Traces: Meissen Murals in Dresden and Meissen

    In 1953, the Department of Artistic Wall Design was established at the State Porcelain Manufactory in Meissen. It carried out commissions throughout the GDR, enriching not only state buildings but also churches, cafés, hotels and shops with architectural art. Later, commissions were carried out for clients from West Germany, the USA and Japan. The designs came from the manufactory's own collective of artists and external artists. This map provides an overview of the murals in Dresden and Meissen. Some have already fallen victim to remodelling and renovation, while others can still be viewed on site, which we cordially invite you to do with this map.

    Wall decoration with red, brown and green tiles, metal lines and round elements in red, yellow and green.
    Two blue crossed swords as the logo of Meissen Porcelain on blue, white and black rectangular tiles.
    Two blue crossed swords as the logo of Meissen Porcelain on blue, white and black rectangular tiles.
    Wall decoration with red, brown and green tiles, metal lines and round elements in red, yellow and green.

    Welcome to voices, the digital platform of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden! More

    29. October 2025 — Talk
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    Stepping Out of Line

    Using performative actions, various artists of the late GDR broke the tight boundaries of the official art scene. Their works were subversive, ephemeral, and radically carnal. Today, they are important attestations to artistic self-empowerment. The exhibition Stepping out of Line. Woman Action Artists in the GDR (Albertinum, 17 May – 31 August, extended until 23 November 2025) garnered more visibility for these positions. Here, we are presenting video interviews, which were created to be contemporary witness reports as part of the exhibition.

    Wanted! Meissen Pocelain in Private Hands

    Meissen porcelain is highly sought after, not only in museums but also by private individuals. It is often associated with stories and history that are waiting to be told. That is why we have asked you to tell us about your own objects. Some of the submissions will be on display until 22 February 2026 in the exhibition ‘The Blue Swords. Meissen in the GDR’ at the Japanese Palace. You can read the stories here.

    29. August 2025 — Article
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    Under the Spell of the Needle

    On the occasion of the 150th anniversary in 2025, the Museum für Völkerkunde Dresden is looking back on its history. Selected objects from the collection are integrated in the different exhibitions of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen. At the Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon, this compass can be seen, showing much more than the cardinal directions.

    24. July 2025 — Article
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    Gottfried Reinhardt's Jocasta

    Gottfried Reinhardt (1935-2013) moved outside of the official cultural scene of the GDR with his critical texts. He was denied accreditation as a professional puppeteer, and so he ran his own puppet theatre, in which he controlled all aspects of the business, from stage design to acting. When he finally had to cease operations due to health complications, he donated a large part of his equipment to the Puppentheatersammlung, among them, this puppet of Jocasta.

    Digital Reader