….May 2010 ….East Side Gallery, Berlin….
During an infamous press conference on November 9th 1989, Günter Schabowski, an unofficial government spokesman for the East German government and member of the Politburo, hastily announced new travel regulations allowing East German citizens to cross the border with proper permission. His confusing answers gave the impression the borders would be opened immediately. Hours later the Berlin Wall crumbled.
Günter Schabowski passed away this week, about a week before the anniversary of that history changing night. Four years ago when I began photographing people who had their lives changed by the division of Germany, Mr. Schabowski was already seriously ill and living in a nursing home. I regret not being able to get his portrait.
