You are standing on Mühlenstraße, right next to the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall—the
East Side Gallery.
After the fall of the Wall in November 1989, this spot was nothing but gray concrete. But in the spring
of 1990, a total of 118 artists from 21 countries boldly picked up their brushes and spray cans.
Along a stretch of roughly 1.3 kilometers, they created over 100 images filled with hope, wit, and political
messages—painted directly onto the eastern side of the Wall.
The public opening took place on September 28, 1990—aboard a ship docked on the
River Spree. Since then, the East Side Gallery has come to symbolize not only creative freedom
but also the overcoming of Germany’s division. Shortly thereafter, in November 1991,
it was designated a protected historical monument.
Some of its most iconic motifs have made it world-famous: There is “The Brotherly Kiss”
by Dmitri Vrubel—depicting Honecker and Brezhnev locked in an intimate socialist embrace—and “Test the
Best,” which shows a Trabant car seemingly smashing through the concrete. Today, these images
are postcard classics and Instagram magnets.
However, being an open-air gallery also means exposure to the elements, graffiti, and vandalism—the
ravages of time are taking their toll everywhere. In 1996, the artists’ initiative East Side Gallery e. V. was
founded to combat this deterioration. The first 300 meters were restored in 2000, followed by a
comprehensive restoration in 2009—carried out with significant support from the state and local districts;
many of the artists even restored their own murals themselves.
There were setbacks along the way: for instance, in 2005–06, sections were relocated or even removed
to make way for the construction of the Arena (formerly the O₂) just to the south—and in 2013,
sections vanished to accommodate a hotel development project, sparking protests from 600 people. But one thing remains: This unique section
of the Wall tells stories—right along the Spree.
Since November 2018, the East Side Gallery has been owned by the Berlin Wall Foundation, which now
officially oversees its maintenance and interpretation—ensuring that the monument is preserved for
future generations.
Image Sources:
Image 1:
By Dellex – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10014702
Image 2:
By Gerd Danigel, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=53285355
Image 3:
By Lklundin – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38642612
Image 4:
By Ralf Roletschek – Own work, GFDL 1.2, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64328907
