“Barriers and divisions condemned.” That’s what this Piece of Berlin Wall Graffiti represents. Here we stand before a powerful relic of the Cold War. It is a symbol of division and, ultimately, reunification. This is a section of the Berlin Wall. It stands here on Wilshire Boulevard.
The Wall Along Wilshire is the longest stretch of the Berlin Wall outside of Germany. It measures nearly forty feet wide. These ten original segments were assembled here in 2009. The Wall Project was a public art initiative by the Wende Museum. It commemorated the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The Wende Museum invited artists to participate in the project. L.A. based artists Kent Twitchell, Farrah Karapetian and Marie Astrid Gonzalez contributed. Thierry Noir, a French-born, Berlin-based muralist, also participated. He was one of the first artists to paint the Berlin Wall in 1984.
The installation recalls the East Side Gallery in Berlin. International artists transformed the Berlin Wall into a canvas there. It reflected real and imagined divisions. The last four segments contain original graffiti from Cold War era Berlin. One segment features an iconic image. It is Bimer’s green bear.
Kent Twitchell initially contributed portraits of John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. These presidents have significant history with the Berlin Wall. In 2014, Twitchell returned to honor Nelson Mandela Day. He added the figure of the former South African president.
The side facing away from the street is often in shadow. It feels thematically appropriate. This was the side that faced East Berlin. In November 2011, the Wende Museum invited three artists to contribute to its Surveillance Project.
The artists explored how surveillance started during the Cold War era. It continues through today. Herakut, Retna, and D*Face contributed murals. They cover nine segments. These segments belonged to the east side of the original Berlin Wall. This side faced the East German death strip. It was never painted before.
The Wall Along Wilshire is part of The Wende Museum’s permanent collection. It is a vibrant outdoor canvas. It connects contemporary issues with significant historical events. These events impacted the globe. They include the East German peaceful revolution, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the end of the Cold War.
Los Angeles is home to the largest section of the Berlin Wall outside of Germany. It serves as a reminder. Walls can be torn down. Division can give way to unity. This Piece of Berlin Wall Graffiti stands as a testament to the power of freedom and the enduring hope for a world without barriers.