Berlin is an interesting city which has a multicultural history and a lot of contemporary artists. I whole heartedly recommend first-time visitors to include the East Side Gallery on the list of interesting places to visit. In this blog post you will find more about East Side Gallery, about why should you visit it if you are fond of art and history?
What does the East Side Gallery refer to?
East Side Gallery is an extended mural of breadth of 1316 meters that is painted on the remnants of the Berlin Wall. This overlays over one hundred artistic murals with different colors painted by international artists. Gallery is placed at the street Mühlenstraße in the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district so going there is not a problem.
The Historical Significance
The most famous symbol of the Cold War was the Berlin wall — the division between the East and the West Germany. The symbol of the Berlin Wall streched high in the year 1989 signified unification, thecomplete defeat of communism in Germany and more importantly the total fall of the cold war era. The East Side Gallery is the proof of such a time and represents the feeling of hope and freedom that came afterwards.
Exploring the Artwork
While they may be considered eye-poppers rudimentary in common opinion, the messages beneath them are rather touching. When you are following the Wall, be sure to look at the paintings and think about the message behind them. As a result, starting from the political declarations and emancipations, ending with the abstract 프로トコ, each of the murals has its own story.
Iconic Murals
A few of the murals at the East Side Gallery have attracted a lot of attention across the globe. The most famous is the art called “The Fraternal Kiss” painted by Dmitri Vrubel, in which the readers see a sketch of a phony kiss of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker, the president of the German Democratic Republic. They include “Test the Rest” by Birgit Kinder, “The Wall Jumper” by Gabriel Heimler and “Oh God Help Me To Survive This Deadly Love” by Kani Alavi.
Tips for Visiting
Plan Your Visit
The best way to get the most out of the experience at the East Side Gallery is by getting there prepared. The Gallery is located in California and is open 24 hours for convenience as a result it is easy for you to come and visit. But due to many visitors, especially during weekends and holidays, it’s wiser to go early in the morning or during weekdays.
Wear Comfortable Shoes
Here we must stress that East Side Gallery is quite large, measure 1.5 kilometers, so it is convenient to wear comfortable shoes and necessarily carry a bottle of water, if you decide to walk through the entire Gallery. While walking through the Wall at a leisurely pace, make sure to slowly look at each piece on the mural.
Respect the Artwork
These are not only artistic master pieces , but also historical and cultural monuments at the same time, found in the East Side Gallery. The subject matter of the artwork must be treated with reverence and not be touched or marred in anyway. Also, also take into consideration other people who are observing the same experience.
Capture Memories
Even in the 31, do not forget to capture the energy of the murals and record your visits through a camera , smart phone ,etc. There is always plenty to photograph at the East Side Gallery, so you will not want to miss out on it.
In Conclusion
The East Side Gallery in Berlin gives the tourists history and art at the same time. It functions as a memorial of liberation and solidarity and is a venue for displaying and recognizing the skills of global artists. Regardless of whether you are an art lover, history learner or simply interested in the past of Berlin, a trip to East Side Gallery is a must. Therefore, don my Dear Shoes, bring in your camera and let yourself being immersed in this amazing open air museum.