Thomas Billhardt: Die Augen weit offen

The exhibition "Die Augen weit offen" (“Eyes Wide Open”) at Fotografiska reveals the reality of the GDR through the eyes of a photographer who delved deep into its political and social fabric.

– Thomas Billhardt, Alexanderplatz, Berlin, 1960

From his lifelong observation of Alexanderplatz—beginning with his thesis—through his documentation of the Vietnam War to his travels to Cuba and the USSR: Billhardt’s images capture history in the very moment it unfolds—unvarnished, intimate, and free of nostalgia. His work proves that life finds a way, no matter how oppressive the system may be. For people love, laugh, protest, and survive—despite, and indeed within, these systems that are so much larger than the individual within them.

His photographs pose the question: How do people preserve their humanity when the structures around them seek to take it away? Spanning decades and continents, Billhardt’s work demonstrates that resistance and vulnerability can endure even within oppressive systems. The exhibition becomes a timeless dialogue about resilience, truth, and the power of the individual within collective narratives.

Hours: Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Runtime: Fri, 28/08/2026 to Tue, 02/02/2027

Takes place here:

• Fotografiska Berlin