Berlin Wall

We arrived at the East Side Gallery, an over 1km long section of the Berlin Wall that has been preserved in its original place along the Spree river. The wall was painted right after the fall of the Berlin wall by 118 artists from 21 different countries, using different methods to comment on the political events that took place during that time. It was quite an interesting feeling to take a stroll along the wall and imagine what it would have felt like when it was more then a memorial, when it was a true divide of the city, and an encroachment on peoples freedom.

It was unfortunate to see that despite a recent restoration of many of the works in 2009, graffiti just as much as weather still had a strong presence in the condition of the art pieces. Not much more than inconspicuous signs placed here and there, asking not to deface the art on the wall, seems to try and prevent at least the graffiti. It is a shame really that such an important piece of history and artistic expression is not better preserved from the hooligans writing birthday messages with spray paint.

'Es geschah im November' (It happened in November) - Kani Alavi

'Mein Gott hilf mir, diese tödliche Liebe zu überleben' (My God help me this deadly love to survive) - Dimitri Wrubel 

To our luck we were also privy to another temporary exhibit, that was plastered on the west side of the wall. WallOnWall consisted of 36 panoramic photographs picturing separation and border walls erected in 8 different regions in the world, still standing today. The effect of the photographs on the back side of the Berlin wall was in my opinion huge. The artist, Kai Wiedenhöfer, is concerned with the inhumanity of walls, how they define friend and foe, inside and outside (as written on the exhibit). 

'Wir sind ein Volk' (We are one people) - Shamil Gimajev

'Many small people who in many small places do many small things that can alter the face of the world' 

Those are just some of my favourites from the East Side Gallery. I think it goes unsaid that it is a must see for all that come to Berlin, it also qualifies as the largest open air gallery in the world. As lovely as our visit to the remains of the Berlin Wall was, that was also the demise of my iPhone and my mobile connection to the world wide web. I guess I have to take consolation in any internet connection that I can get now, and no more Instagram addiction for me. 

...Bis Bald...