THE 'FUTURE IS PAST' MURAL BY HENDRIK BEIKIRCH

This work by artist Hendrik Beikirch painted on today's A4 Gewerbepark in Chemnitz is the latest contribution to our Public Mural Program. The work is a profound homage that invites viewers to engage with a crucial chapter of German history – the peaceful revolution and the subsequent upheavals.

At the heart of the artwork is an artistic interpretation of a brigade from the last Arbeitskollektiv (work collective) of VEB Numerik "Karl Marx" from 1988. This image is a snapshot from a time when the Arbeitskollektiv formed the backbone of social and professional life in the GDR.

Collectives like this were not only places of work but also of social interaction. They embodied the ideology of socialism, were intended to contribute to education in the spirit of the state, and to motivate plan fulfillment. Despite the often palpable ideological pressure, these communities also offered many people support, solidarity, and personal friendships, which played an important role in the often-constrained daily life of the GDR. The collective principle permeated all areas of life – from kindergartens and schools to FDJ (Free German Youth) and sports and leisure groups.

VEB Numerik "Karl Marx" in Karl-Marx-Stadt was a technologically leading company in the GDR, specializing in the development and production of electronic controls for mechanical engineering. With around 2600 employees in 1989, the company played a central role in the automation of GDR industry and exported its products to numerous other socialist countries. Its history is exemplary of the industrial development of the GDR.

With German reunification, companies like VEB Numerik faced immense challenges. The transition from a planned economy to a market economy led to a drastic and rapid reduction in personnel. On June 18, 1990, VEB Numerik "Karl Marx" became Numerik GmbH, which suddenly found itself in fierce competition with Western companies. The consequences were devastating: From 2600 employees in 1989, only 1200 remained in 1990, and another 150 jobs were cut by 1992. The production of the once so important Numerik products was largely discontinued.

These massive changes triggered what many East Germans refer to as "Wendetrauma" (trauma of the Wende/change). The sudden loss of jobs, which for many represented not only their livelihood but also a central part of their identity and social status, led to profound existential fears, insecurity, and a feeling of loss of dignity and life purpose. The economic uncertainty and social upheavals also provided fertile ground for political changes and the rise of right-wing populist tendencies. The processing of these complex experiences continues to this day.

Hendrik Beikirch's mural on the former Numerik site (today's "A4 Gewerbepark") is thus a powerful visual statement in memory of the people who once shaped the industrial landscape of the GDR and the profound upheavals they experienced. The artwork reminds us not to forget the social and psychological consequences of structural change and honors the biographies of those whose lives were irrevocably altered by German unity. It is an invitation to reflect on identity, work, and societal change.

The mural was realized with the help of Koblenz based artist Elia Horbert, material and spraypaint support by Juergen Feuerstein (MOLOTOW Spraypaint) and Tilman Weigel with his CIS Immobilien Service GmbH team providing the space!