A work of art that extends to a length of 1.3 kilometers. OR East Side Gallery It was created shortly after the fall of the wall, at a time when in the former divided Berlin there was a very special atmosphere. A mixture of renewal, hope, improvisation and feeling that everything was possible. Behind the east side of the Berlin Wall there were many empty and unused plots, which were mainly occupied by artists who came from around the world and began to paint the first large frescoes on the wall.

The situation was fluid. There were no strict licensing procedures, people just brought stairs, buckets with paint and spray and began to work. Finally, about 118 artists from 21 countries painted the concrete surfaces. Some works were politically – such as Dmitry Brubel’s famous “Brother Kiss” work with Erich Honecker and Leonid Brezniev, the two former leaders of the GDP and the Soviet Union kissing while other works were poetic, abstract. The result was a colorful work of art that not only recorded political turmoil, but is also a symbol of freedom of art in public space.

Then many artists settled there. “More than thirty years ago, in the area between the Spree River and the Wall, nearly 300 people lived in caravans and improvised houses,” explains political scientist Anna von Arnim-Rosendal, special and cultural issues. Since 2018 she is the director of the East Side Gallery at the Berlin Wall Foundation.

The area changed

“But here everything has changed,” says Anna von Arnim-Rosendal. In 1996, under the pressure of the Senate, Berlin opened the area for urban development and artists, clubs and residents with caravans living there had to move.

In the early 2000s, the area was sold to US billionaire Philip Poch. “And that’s why we now have skyscrapers, hotels, Uber Arena, offices, the mall and so on,” says Anna von Arnim-Rosendall. “Alternative life was expelled to another place.”

The Ashuts Group created a very sought -after urban district here. Since the 1990s new buildings, hotels, office complexes and luxurious homes have been built, mainly along the Spree River, where the East Side Gallery extends parallel to the river.

In 2008, today’s Uber Arena opened, where concerts, sports events and shows are held. Next to it is the East Side Mall shopping center and many bars, clubs and restaurants. The waterfront of the Spree River has been developed and today is a popular spot for walks and tourism.

The past and the future

The projects of the Ansquout Group have repeatedly triggered protests – critics complained that the historic East Side Gallery monument is threatened or interrupted by investment projects. Initiatives such as “Save the East Side Gallery” are calling for the space to be maintained as an authentic monument to the wall.

The fact that Berlin has supported the construction of luxury apartments and hotels in the area must be examined in its historical context, says Anna von Arnim-Rosendall: “The Berliners no longer wanted the wall in the urban landscape, only a few voices wanted to maintain it. The area was deserted, but it was attractive to construction. So they tried to find a compromise: to continue the development of the city, but to maintain this place. “

The 35th anniversary of the East Side Gallery is officially celebrated on September 28th. It is an art monument, a tourist attraction, a venue and a luxurious residential area. A unique memory symbol all over the world.

Curated by: Maria Rigoutsou