This is one of the more famous murals from Berlin’s East Side Gallery. The attraction is one of Berlin’s most important tourist sites. Today, thousands of tourists visit the location every day. The sidewalk along Mühlenstraße is consistently crowded and packed with photo-snapping tourists. The East Side Gallery is the longest stretch still standing of the former Berlin wall. Shortly after the ’89 fall of the wall, artists were invited to paint political murals on the remnants—creating the world’s largest open air gallery. It’s an important site in Berlin’s history then and now.
The photo above (which I took yesterday when visiting) is of the mural “My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love” by Russian painter Dmitri Vrubel. It was originally painted on the wall in 1990. Due to the fact that many of the 1990 graffiti murals were destroyed over time by weather, erosion and vandalism, Vrubel repainted the mural in 2009 (with the support of the Künstlerinitiative). The mural is almost an exact replica of a 1979 photograph taken of two famous East German and Soviet Union politicians in a fraternal embrace. As you can tell from the photo above, the mural has again been destroyed by graffiti and vandalism.
When I first visited the East Side Gallery on my very first trip to Berlin, the murals were in fine shape. Sure, there were scribblings and small tags by tourists and passers-by, but overall the works of art seemed to be in relatively good shape. Over the past few years, however, it seems the works of art have been left in disrepair. Despite being one of Berlin’s most important tourist attractions, it seems no one is able to responsibly care for what has been called the world’s largest open-air gallery.
It’s incredible to think that such an important reminder of Berlin’s history, Germany’s history—hell, even our world’s history—has been left for dead. Walking along the East Side Gallery yesterday, I was hard-pressed to find a single mural that hadn’t appeared to have been destroyed. Perhaps most upsetting for me was Vrubel’s mural. Apparently, according to this blog, the “Stop Homophobia in Russia” tag appeared around the same time as the corresponding demonstration in Berlin. Shortly thereafter it seems (and first spotted on this page), the “faggots” tag appeared over the artwork.
I believe restoration of the East Side Gallery is badly needed yet again. Berliners and tourists alike must feel some sort of ownership over the gallery, the wall and its legacy. When visiting tourist sites such as these, it’s important to remember the past, and to think of the future. For a tourist site as important as this one (we must not forget our past), the East Side Gallery should receive greater respect than it is currently being given.
Wow, I am so sad to see this. I hope they do something to fix this issue ASAP.
Really sad to see that big of graffiti especially – it wasn’t there when I was there last month!
I don’t think it’s not clear to anyone how the East Side Gallery can be protected, except possibly for the posting of permanent security on patrols up and down Mühlenstrasse. And were that to happen, how *interesting* would that be … at the site of the former Mauer, once again, to keep people “away” …
How “interesting” indeed… Reminded me of the irony last winter when there were protests & demonstrations to keep the wall up—considering it’s been 24 years since there were protests & demos to tear it down.
probably something that has to be taught. by maybe putting up a sign that asks people to respect the wall or something. and over time, people might respect the wall.
love it!
It’s pathetic that people would reduce themselves to destroying their own city’s history like that…I was sad we didn’t get out to see these when we were in Berlin
I don’t love this
I know its so sad. I pass by there everyday by bike on my way home. I witnessed the repainting in 2009. Some of the Artists were working their for weeks to paint the murals. I see tourist everyday openly scribling on the walls over the murals and don’t understand why?
Once I ask some young tourist, why they are scribling on the wall with their eding and they looked at me clueless and said: everybody does it.
shouldn’t it be common sense to not vadalize like that? Unfortunately its a thing I have seen worldwide on various tourist attraction e.g. when walking up the Sagrada Famila in Barcelona.
In my opion its the same with hanging those love logs everywhere. in the beginning it was kind of cute but now I feel its pure vandalism, becuase they are everywhere damaging ornaments of old bridges.
I so rarely find myself by the East Side Gallery so it’s interesting to hear your perspective from going by it every day.
Interesting point about the love locks, too! I just saw the Köln ones and it was pretty impressive. I see how it could be construed as graffiti — and I know they can create problems for the architecture/engineering as well.
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