It has been 25 years since the fall of Berlin Wall but the expression of global euphoria of that historic time remains vivid on the longest surviving section of the Wall.
Along the Spree River, the real border between East and West Germany, a section of the Berlin Wall on the eastern bank was left intact and became an international memorial of freedom.
In 1990, artists from more than 20 countries expressed the world’s jubilation of Germany’s reunification by painting more than 100 murals on this wall that became known as the East Side Gallery.
Stretching 1.3 km (0.8 mi) long and 3.6-meter (11 ft) high, the East Side Gallery is the largest open-air mural collection in the world. It is also the longest lasting.
These visual odes to freedom are expressed in various artistic modes – playful, bizarre, spiritual, political, philosophical, etc.
One of the most famous painting in the gallery is the image of kissing Soviet and East German leaders, Breshnev and Honecker. It maybe creepy but it seemed to evoke passion from passersby.
Selfie against the wall!
Sadly, there’s now a hole on the wall. A real estate developer started to create a gap in the East Side Gallery wall in 2013 to provide access route to new luxury apartment development on the bank of Spree River. It caused an uproar and the developer halted widening the gap.
But more sadly, a lot of visitors choose to leave their own marks on the wall. As you can see, graffitis have been painted over many of the murals.
Aside from vandalism, the wall and murals also suffered from decay caused by weather and traffic fumes. Some of the paintings have been restored several years ago. Currently, more efforts are being made by Artists Initiative East Side Gallery to restore the murals and to save the wall and the arts from further destruction.
It is such a shame not to preserve them. They may not be masterpieces but they should be appreciated and valued for their important historical significance.
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Travel Notes:
- East Side Gallery is located on Mullenstrasse between Oberbaumbrucke and Ostbahnhof.
- It is easily accessible by trains and buses.
- You can walk the whole stretch of the wall in about 15 minutes, but give yourself about an hour to leisurely appreciate the murals.
- The most famous murals are found on the Ostbahnhof end of the wall. If you’re press for time, you may start your walk from that side.
- There is no admission and can be visited any day.
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Linking to Travel Photo Thursday and Weekend Travel Inspiration.
Thanks for the post and photo update, Marisol!
I was lucky to visit the Wall not long after the last renovation (in 2012). In case you’re interested, here is the link to my post with the pics of non-vandalized murals – http://memographer.com/2012/06/berlin-wall-east-side-gallery/
It is really painful to see what has happened to the Wall. I can’t understand what people are trying to achieve by writing their names over someone’s artwork… what’s the point?!
memographer recently posted..Saint Petersburg, Petrograd, Leningrad, Piter – The City on The Neva River
Hi Alex, thanks for sharing your link and photos. The wall that you had seen was such a big contrast to what I witnessed. It’s truly a shame that people have not respect for a great historical landmark. I really hope they can fully restore the murals and the wall.
Weather and pollution are the bane of murals and unfortunately even without the vandalism the murals are bound to deteriorate. Any project in the works for restoring them?
BTW, welcome back. You and your wonderful posts have been sorely missed.
Photo cache recently posted..Back to Venice
Hi Maria, thanks! Nice to know we were missed.
Artists initiative, a non-profit org, is raising fund to help restore the murals.
I second that comment above – thought I was just missing your postings as they came through in the reader. Welcome back! I find graffiti such an irritating statement by its creators (some of whom could probably be quite talented muralists if they put their mind and talent to it!). Loved the photos of the Berlin Wall – I’d not really wondered what it looked like. Happy travels~
Jackie Smith recently posted..Cruising to Cochin ~ Our Gateway to India
Hi Jackie, thanks! It’s nice to be back.
It’s really such a shame that some people would choose to apply their talents in such destructive way.
What a visual explosion. Love the leaders kissing and the way you captured the couple walking in the first photo. I was thinking that the murals would need to be restored or painted afresh since 1990. I loved this extravaganza of colour.
budget jan recently posted..Campo de Fiori a market that grew from a Roman Meadow
Hi Jan, I really hope the the Artists Initiative will be successful in restoring the painting and policing act of vandalism.
I’ll be honest, I was really disappointed with this the day we went. We’d already seen such amazing art in the streets, so I’d assumed this would be more of the same, but I didn’t think most of it was very good. I guess it’s the history that makes it so important….for street art, Berlin is the place to be but other suburbs for my choice (but you sort of have to go here for the wall. intact….) You do wonder about the people that write on it, tho…
Lydia C. Lee recently posted..My First Holiday
Hi Lydia, I agree that there are lots of better street arts out there but these murals should be appreciated and valued more for their historical symbolism. I did wonder about those people writing on the walls, too. I guess they don’t realize the historical significance of these murals.
This is so cool! I think this will be my first stop in Berlin. I have always enjoyed this type of art. I can only think of the many people I follow on Instagram that are constantly posting street art. I will have to recommend Berlin to them.
Ruth – Tanama Tales recently posted..A Tour of the Yosemite Valley
Hi Ruth, it really is worth a visit when you’re in Berlin. Hopefully by then , the murals will be in their restored state.
Great photos….
Muza-chan recently posted..Old Japanese stories, Ishikawa Goemon
Thank Lili!
I love the people who are checking out the murals as much as the murals themselves. The couple kissing in front of the Russian/GDR leaders kissing is a classic shot. Just visiting from #TravelPhotoThursday.
Shobha recently posted..How Iceland Made Corrugated Steel Construction Charming
Hi Shobha, I thought of incorporating the people to make the image more interesting and to give some sort of scale perspective. Glad you enjoyed them.
I’m so glad to see a new post from you.. Welcome back!
This is so different than the photos from my husband’s childhood trip to East Berlin in the 70s. The Wall was a lot scarier and divisive back then. I especially like that you included people posing in front of the murals. I especially like that colorful mural with the 4 girls using a selfie stick in front of it. In other photos, the people don’t seem to be paying any attention to the artwork at all.
I wrote about street art in my blog post this week, too. It must be so disappointing when other people mess up beautiful art.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders} recently posted..Art Alley: Rapid City’s Hidden Treasure
Thank you, Michelle! It’s nice to be back.
I can imagine how the wall can be scary back then. I thought including the people will add more perspective. Other people don’t pay attention because I guess they’re locals just passing by. What a coincidence that you also posted about street arts this week.
I am a fan of street art, murals and anything that tells a story and rejuvenates a concrete blight on the landscape. I understand that Berlin is awash with street art. It is an issue that people will graffiti on street art and there is a difference. This is probably more vandalism than graffiti and comes with the territory. I think that luckily, street artists will move on and still create.
Paula McInerney recently posted..You wonât get Champagne and Caviar on Tigerair Australia
Hi Paula, yes they are more vandalism then graffiti. Such as shame that they don’t value such historic landmark.
wow these murals are amazing. A wonderful place for self expression. It is sad to hear they are undergoing the ravages of time, weather, and vandalism. Why do people do that! I love street art. It really adds a vibrancy to a city. I haven’ been by your blog in a while, but I enjoyed stopping by today and revisiting some of your posts. Happy travels.
A really great article. Always good to see images from the East Side Gallery – amazing how much it changes over time. I have a nice photo e-book called 20 Photos from the East Side Gallery which is free at my website http://www.johnhuttonphotography.co.uk/free-stuff