Günther Shaefer

In the stylish ambiance of Günther Schaefer's Berlin flat, we spent an afternoon savoring coffee and cigarettes. A renowned photographer and offset printer, Schaefer's journey has taken him between Germany and the United States. Born in eastern Bavaria near the East German border, he made a pivotal move to Berlin in 1989 when the Wall came down.

Schaefer gained international acclaim for his black-and-white photographs capturing the fall of the Berlin Wall, most notably Vaterland at the East Side Gallery. As a founding member of the Künstlerinitiative in 1996, he played a crucial role in the creation of the East Side Gallery. Today, Berlin remains his muse, and his artistic legacy continues to shape the city's cultural landscape.