The East Side Gallery is a 1.3 km long section of the Berlin Wall in the German capital city of Berlin. Located on the east side of the city, it was the first part of the wall to be painted in 1989 and has since become an iconic symbol of freedom and reunification.
The East Side Gallery was created shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall, when the Berlin Senate, in conjunction with the East German government, invited 118 artists from 21 different countries to come to Berlin and paint a section of the wall. The wall was painted in the fall of 1989 and the resulting artwork was unveiled on the first anniversary of the wall’s fall, November 9, 1990. The artwork was intended to symbolize the reunification of East and West Germany, as well as to commemorate the peaceful revolution of 1989.
The East Side Gallery is now a major tourist attraction, with over 3 million visitors a year. The gallery consists of 105 paintings, each one depicting a different message or theme. The artwork is varied in style and subject, from political messages to portraits of famous people to abstract works. Some of the most famous works include the “Kiss of Death” by Dmitri Vrubel, the “Fraternal Kiss” by Dmitri Konstantinov, and the “My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love” by Birgit Kinder.
The East Side Gallery is not only a popular tourist attraction but also a political symbol. The gallery has been a site of protest, most notably in 2009 when the German government announced plans to demolish part of the wall to make way for a luxury housing development. The plans sparked outrage among artists, activists and citizens, who organized protests and rallies to save the East Side Gallery. The protests were successful and the wall was saved.
Preservation Efforts
The East Side Gallery is now a protected historical monument and is maintained by the East Side Gallery Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to preserve and restore the artwork. The foundation organizes regular events and exhibitions, as well as educational programs for children and adults. They also work to raise funds for the preservation and restoration of the gallery.
In addition to the efforts of the East Side Gallery Foundation, the gallery has also been the recipient of several grants from the German government. These grants have enabled the foundation to carry out necessary restoration work, as well as to create a visitors’ center and to improve the overall infrastructure of the gallery.
Conclusion
The East Side Gallery is an iconic symbol of freedom and reunification, and is a major tourist attraction in Berlin. The gallery is maintained by the East Side Gallery Foundation, which works to preserve and restore the artwork, as well as to organize educational programs and events. With the support of the German government and the efforts of the East Side Gallery Foundation, the East Side Gallery will remain a powerful symbol of freedom and peace for years to come.