Is that a kiss or a grimace? Here at the East Side Gallery, we find “Mein Gott, hilf mir, diese tödliche Liebe zu überleben”. This translates to “My God, help me to survive this deadly love”. It is one of the most famous pieces of Berlin Wall graffiti art. The mural depicts Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker. They engage in a socialist fraternal kiss.
The story behind “Mein Gott, hilf mir, diese tödliche Liebe zu überleben” is quite interesting. The image is based on a photograph taken in 1979. Régis Bossu captured the moment during the German Democratic Republic’s 30th-anniversary celebration. The photo was widely republished. Brezhnev visited East Germany to celebrate the anniversary. East Germany and the Soviet Union signed a ten-year agreement. They agreed on mutual support. East Germany would provide ships and machinery. The Soviet Union would provide fuel and nuclear equipment.
Dmitri Vrubel painted the mural in 1990. It was on the eastern side of the Berlin Wall. Before the wall fell, graffiti art existed only on the western side. Vrubel got permission to paint on the eastern side. He signed a contract giving up all rights to the painting.
After the wall came down, the painting remained on display. Vandalism and weather caused deterioration. In 2009, the painting was erased. The original artists repainted them with more durable paints. Vrubel was commissioned to repaint his piece. He donated the 3000 Euro fee to a social art project.
There are slight differences between the 1990 and 2009 murals. Vrubel said he made technical mistakes on the original. This was due to inexperience. The main message did not change. Photographer Bossu and Vrubel met in 2009. They were photographed together with reproductions of their works.
“Mein Gott, hilf mir, diese tödliche Liebe zu überleben” has become well-known. It is one of the best known works of graffiti art on the Berlin Wall. Some critics saw it as a straightforward reproduction of the photograph.
Vrubel explained the painting’s meaning. There is one German and one Russian. The Berlin Wall is about the same thing in reverse. In the painting, there is total love. The Berlin Wall separates two worlds. It was a perfect fit. He wanted to create a wow factor. He did not expect the success it achieved.
The mural has inspired derivative works. One example is a Lithuanian mural. It depicts Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in a similar pose. It is called Make Everything Great Again. Another mural in Bristol features Donald Trump and Boris Johnson. This appeared before the 2016 referendum.
The East Side Gallery is a powerful reminder. It shows the complex history of Berlin and the Cold War. “Mein Gott, hilf mir, diese tödliche Liebe zu überleben” captures a moment in time. It is a symbol of love, politics, and survival. It encourages us to reflect on the past. It also helps us consider the future.