Himmelweit (‘Vastly Equal’) is a contribution towards commemorating the peaceful revolutions of 1989 in Europe. More than twenty years ago different civil movements brought down the state-socialist regimes of Eastern Central Europe in a way thus far unthinkable, preparing the way for freedom, pluralism, and democracy.

Reflecting on this epochal change, ‘Vastly Equal’ put its own emphasis on things amongst a host of anniversary and commemorative events throughout the year 1989, bringing an exhibition each to the four cities of Dresden, Wroclaw, Prague und Bratislava. Each exhibition was conceived and designed by young people who, owing to their young age, had not been able to be consciously aware of the events of 1989. On the contrary, the political and social conditions rendered possible by these very events have been normality for this age group; a normality that comes to life through exchange across Europe or, indeed, the world, in the areas of education, occupation and leisure. ‘Vastly Equal’ thus deliberately provided some space for the specific perspectives of young people on the peaceful revolutions of 1989 and on the changes over the past 25 years.

Taking a view across borders was an integral part of the work for all participants in ‘Vastly Equal’ from Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Curiosity to learn about the different courses of events in 1989, including the specific pre- and post-developments and the different significances of 1989 in the various countries served as a drive for crossborder dis-cussions and cooperation. Last, but not least, this multinational point of view sharpened the authors’ attention to development in their own countries.

Specially chosen groups of people or local themes of living situations in Dresden, Wroclaw, Prague, and Bratislava formed the heart of each of the four exhibitions. The young exhibition designers focussed on demonstrating and analysing the long-term changes from the eighties until the present time, thus marking a distinction from the majority of the commemorative events of 2009, which generally centred around the events of 1989 itself. Still, the view on local themes benefitted from said multinational perspective on the various horizons and paths opened by the changes of 1989 in the different countries, and on the difficulties and faults they also brought about.

The ‘Vastly Equal’ exhibitions thus aimed at facilitating reflections on 1989 for young people in particular. This holds for the resulting enormous individual and social opportunities as well as for the related problems. If nothing else, ‘Vastly Equal’ sought to raise interest for the European dimension of 1989.