Exploring Berlin's Iconic East Side Gallery

East Side Gallery is an open-air art gallery in Berlin, Germany. It is the longest remaining section of the Berlin Wall, the symbol of the former division of the city. It consists of 105 paintings by artists from all over the world, painted directly on the wall in 1990. It is located on the bank of the Spree River in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg.

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History

The Berlin Wall was built in 1961 to separate East and West Berlin. After the fall of the wall in 1989, many of the original paintings were destroyed by souvenir hunters. In 1990, a group of artists and citizens called the “Mauer am Checkpoint Charlie” initiated a project to preserve the remaining part of the wall and paint it with murals. This project was called the East Side Gallery.

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Artwork

The artwork on the East Side Gallery includes works from artists from more than 30 countries. It includes a variety of styles and themes, from abstract expressionism to graffiti and pop art. Some of the most iconic images are “My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love” by Dmitri Vrubel, “The Kiss” by Gunter Demnig, and “Berlin – The Division of the World” by Thierry Noir.

Restoration

In 2009, the East Side Gallery was restored and renovated. The original paintings were restored and some new ones were added. A fence was built around the gallery to protect it from vandalism. In 2014, the gallery was declared a protected historic site by the German government.

Visiting the East Side Gallery

The East Side Gallery is open to the public and is free to visit. It is open 24 hours a day and can be accessed from both the East and West sides of Berlin. It is easily accessible by public transport and there is a variety of nearby restaurants and cafés.

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