The Berlin Canvas

In my mind, the Berlin Wall has always been associated with the austerity of the Soviet Union and as the antithesis of free thinking and art. However, after spending merely a day in Berlin and seeing remnants of the wall up close, this notion was entirely shattered. The broken pieces of the wall that have been placed back up have become living canvases for the artists of the city and have also become a heartwarming place for memorial, and

one filled with activity.

At the Berlin Wall Memorial, the recreation of the guard towers and no-man's land on one side was drastically offset by the other side filled with messages of love and hope. It was incredibly moving to see this memorial for those who gave their lives trying to escape to freedom continuing to draw crowds of modern-day Berliners and tourists. There were parents pointing out the graffiti on the walls to their kids, friends sharing a beer looking out at the memorial, and us, a group of photojournalism students trying to capture a truly breathtaking experience.

One moment that especially stood out to me was when a father raised his son up on his shoulders, so he could peer over the wall. For me, it brought to mind famous images of Berliners trying to escape the wall, with parents holding back the barbed wire on the fence so that their kids might have a chance of making it to the West and to freedom. I have a deep love of history, and whenever I am in a historically significant event I always try to take in the environment and feel the echoes of the past, so while I know that this was simply a father helping his curious son, it felt like a glimpse of the past that stayed with me long after we had left the wall.

https://www.berliner-mauer-gedenkstaette.de/en/

Another incredible part of the wall was the Eastside Gallery. What had once been oppressive and purposefully lifeless has been transformed into a living piece of art and a center for activity. At this location, one portion of the wall has been replicated and turned into an exhibit for amazing art work by street artists. It was originally created in the 1990s and the artwork has been recreated on this new wall so that everyone can come and observe their beauty.

My favorite part of visiting this gallery was the activities that were going on next to the wall. There was a young street performer who was serenading every passerby with the sweet melodies of classical music. The combination of the music and the artwork made me stop in place and ensure that I was absorbing every second and truly being present. With the sun shining, the wind blowing lightly on my face, and the click of my classmates’ cameras coming in perfect harmony with the rising and falling notes of the violin, the wall was a place in which I felt truly at home and at peace.

http://www.eastsidegallery-berlin.com/