The Berlin Wall is one of the symbols of Berlin, Germany and of the Cold War. The wall was built by the Socialist Unity Party of Germany in 1961 to separate the West and East of Berlin. About 5,000 people tried to cross the wall to reach West Germany.
Much of the wall has been demolished, but parts remain. The longest remaining section is a 1.3-kilometer stretch near the Spree River, covered in colorful graffiti known as the East Side Gallery.
The East Side Gallery is one of Berlin’s most historic and artistic landmarks. Located on Muehlenstrasse, it is the world’s largest open-air gallery and features over 100 graffiti murals by 118 artists from 21 countries around the world. The murals were created to commemorate the reunification of Germany – a political change of great significance globally.
Across the street is Berlin's largest arena, the Mercedes Benz Arena, which hosts many of the city's major events, such as ice hockey matches and concerts. Since 2015, the government has been building a fence to protect the wall and prevent vandalism by residents and tourists.
Here are some of the most impressive murals at the East Side gallery:
Fraternal Kiss
The mural titled "My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love" by Russian artist Dmitri Vrubel, also known as "Fraternal Kiss", depicts the famous kiss between Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and East German President Erich Honecker at the 30th anniversary of the founding of the German Democratic Republic in 1979. In March 2009, due to deterioration due to vandalism and weather conditions, the painting was removed from the East Side gallery and artist Dmitri Vrubel was commissioned to repaint the work.
Thank you, Andrei Sakharov
This simple portrait by artists Dmitri Vrubel and Viktoria Timofeeva honors Soviet nuclear physicist and human rights activist Andrei Sakharov. After designing nuclear weapons for the Soviet Union, Sakharov became an advocate for civil liberties and reform. He was willing to face state repression for his social activism. These efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975. Sakharov died in 1989, just weeks after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Thierry Noir's cartoon heads
The mural "Thierry Noir's cartoon heads" is the work of French artist Thierry Noir - the first person to paint on the Berlin Wall. For five years in the 1980s, Noir avoided police and security guards to illegally paint bold images of animals and human faces in cartoon form on the Berlin Wall. "Thierry Noir's cartoon heads" is Noir's most famous mural, featuring colorful cartoon heads.
The Trabant breaking through the wall
This iconic mural was painted by Birgit Kinder. It shows a Trabant car through the Berlin Wall. The Trabant was produced from 1957 to 1990 by East German car manufacturer VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerke Zwickau. It is often seen as a symbol of former East Germany and the fall of the Eastern Bloc. The mural seems to represent the aspirations of many East Germans who tried to escape over the Berlin Wall in this famous car.
It Happened in November
The haunting mural "Es Geschah im November" ("It Happened in November") was painted by German-Iranian artist Kani Alavi in 1990. This abstract painting was inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall, with thousands of East German faces facing West Germany. Alavi painted the faces with a range of emotions such as confusion, happiness, and anxiety.
The Wall Jumper
The mural "Der Mauerspringer" ("The Wall Jumper") was painted by artist Gabriel Heimler in 1989 and restored in 2009. Many people believe the painting depicts an East German refugee trying to escape to West Germany, but it is actually a West German trying to jump to East Germany in search of freedom.
The Seven Stages of Enlightenment
Indian artist Narendra Kumar Jain's colorful mural depicts a mystical figure from Indian philosophy. The painting symbolizes liberation from ignorance and overcoming barriers to enlightenment, while also evoking unity and wholeness.
Diagonal Solution to a Problem
Mikhail Serebryakov's mural, titled "Diagonale Lösung des problems" ("Diagonal Solution to a Problem"), depicts a thumb held by a chain in a thumbs-up position - a positive gesture. The artwork shows the strength of the East German government, which tried to protect Communist ideals and suppress dissenting voices.
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