Back in Heuersdorf...

I have been back in Heuersdorf (the village that will disappear at the end of the year as it needs to yield to the commercial interests of open coal mining) this week… I have paid a first visit in January (see blog entry there) and wanted to re-connect with the people there and check on progress… This time I have returned with my (photographer) friend Thomas who photographed the village and the people there with his large format camera…






There was (surprisingly) a lot of (social) activity going on this weekend in Heuersdorf… (given that there are only 47 people left in the village) …for once there was a live band and dance on Saturday and a regional football game on Sunday… most touchingly, there was also a mass and (musical) prayer in the only church (Tabor church) that is still left in Heuersdorf (after the Emmaus church has been moved last year)… the mass and music was organised by a group of committed musicians from Dresden and a pastor who helped organise the resistance of the villagers… I was genuinely deeply moved by the mass and prayers…








Despite all festivities, there was clearly a sense of sadness in the air this weekend, as this summer will be the last summer of the village… by year-end all will be gone…

Specifically this is also the last summer of this lovely church before it will be deconsecrated and demolished… and I cannot even begin to describe how pensive and saddened this made me too… after all, not only brick and mortar will have to yield to commercial interests… an entire lively community will be destroyed… I am not sure whether those who made these decisions are fully aware of the consequences of their actions...