Concept (for Opitz) (Concept (bei Opitz))

1975

The Will Grohmann Prize

After military service in 1974, Penck is awarded the Will Grohmann Prize in 1975 by the Academy of Arts in West Berlin; by this time state security control over him has also increased.

1976

Meets Jörg Immendorff

In 1976 Penck meets the West German painter Jörg Immendorff, with whom he will work in the following years; in their work they campaign for the abolition of the inner German border and for the dissidents, among them Rudolf Bahro and Robert Havemann.

1977

Documenta 6: his participation is blocked

Penck is meant to exhibit at Documenta 6 in Kassel but is prevented from doing so by the influence of an unofficial employee of the GDR’s State Security on a Hessian parliamentarian.

1977

Paintings confiscated

In 1977 some of his paintings are confiscated.