Lives at the Wall

The Division of the City Exemplified by the Heidelberger Strasse

(Neukoelln district. 1979)

"Officially, the whole street belonged to the GDR. From the wall to the front of the houses in the western side, a strip some five yards wide allowed the inhabitants access to their homes." [Müller-Schneck, 2009]

Inscription From the Turn of the Century in the hallway of a house

"Treat others as you yourself would wish to be treated"

(Heidelberger Strasse, Neukoelln district, 1979)

Ballgame with a Doorkeeper by the Wall

(Sebastianstrasse, Kreuzberg district, 1979)

A Look at the Wall

(Heidelberger Strasse, Neukoelln district, 1979)

"Among the Oddities Related to the Wall, There Was a Bell to Allow Access to the Gardens in the Erlengrund Exclave.  When the bell was rung in the western side, the GDR border guards reacted to the signal. Through an electrical device, they opened a sliding door in the Wall allowing the way into the eastern sector." (Spandau district, 1979) [Müller-Schneck, 2009]

[Müller-Schneck, 2009] Berliner Mauer: Web Photo Exhibition. [online] http://www.dieberlinermauer.de/

Berlin Wall from Above

Aerial View of East Berlin Surrounded by the Wall 

(Mariannenplatz, Kreuzberg district, 1980)

Aerial View of the Erlengrund Exclave

(Spandau district, 1979)

The Wall in the Kreuzberg District 

(Leuschnerdamm, 1980)

Behind the Wall

(Kienitzer Str. behind the Wall in the district Neukölln in the West)

The Wall by the Water

(Teltow channel. 1980)

Müller-Schneck, J. [2009] Berliner Mauer: Web Photo Exhibition [online] http://www.dieberlinermauer.de/

"Ish bin ein Bearleener"

This is the speech card John F. Kennedy had when he declared "Ich bin ein Berliner" in 1963.  In fact, the U.S. president claimed he was a "Bearleener" (NARA, 1998). "Lass' sie nach Berlin kommen" (let them come to Berlin) can also be seen.

NARA (1990) Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970s): John F. Kennedy in Berlin on the Cold War. [online] http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/american_originals/kennedy2.html

Warning: Don't Break the Wall

This photograph was taken in November 1989 (it's unknown if it was before or after the Wall opening), with the warning signs on the Wall attempting to stop Mauerpeckers.

Lottenburger, J. (1989) We were So Free. [online] http://www.thelocal.de/gallery/culture/615/41/

Social Media and Journalism

"The Berlin Project by five young reporters also uses social media, but is not a crowd-source project. The aim of the project is to explore the use of mobile media and social platforms to cover today's celebration. The News 2.0 project by former students of the City University's Graduate School of Journalism is backed up by Reuters and will try to demonstrate the possibilities for innovation within journalism available with new media." (Bunz, 2009)

Bunz, M. (2009) The Fall of the Berlin Wall in Digital Media. [online] http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2009/nov/09/fall-of-berlin-wall-digital-media-social-networks

The Berlin Project [2009] http://www.theberlinproject.com/

Where is the Wall Now?

BBC has collected photographs and video footages of the Wall in various parts of the world: some were chipped away by tourists and some larger chunks were donated to organisations [BBC, 2009]. Most of these postings are in Europe and North America, and can be viewed on the interactive world map.

Honolulu Community College is one of three sites in America to own a section of the Wall [HCC, 2009], and a section from Checkpoint Charlie was taken and was placed at the HQ of the CIA (2009).

BBC [2009] Where is the Berlin Wall Now? [online] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/8344662.stm

CIA (2009) The CIA Campus: A Walk Outside Headquarters. [online] https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/a-walk-outside-headquarters.html

HCC [2009] Berlin Wall Freedom Monument. [online] http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/highlights/berlin/

Photographic Journey of 1989

Hungarian border guards dismantling barbed-wire fencing along the Austrian border [New York Times, 2009]. This is one part of the 1989 changes which opened up the Berlin Wall in November.

New York Times [2009] The Year the East Cried 'Freedom!' [online] http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/11/08/world/20091109-EAST_index.html

Illustrated Border Strip and Measurements

This is an illustration of the border strip, with measurements of the concrete slabs on the outer and rear Walls and signalling mechanism.
New York Times (2009) The Berlin Wall. [online]
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2009/11/06/world/08berlinwallgrfxB-ready.html?ref=europe

Sliding History

Delviscio et al (2009) have selected photographs from the time when the Wall was dividing the city, and combined it with a photograph taken in 2009. These two photographs can be viewed by sliding a tab sideways... it's hard to describe this, but you'll see what I mean if you try.

Delviscio, J., Shannon, V., Copeland, B. and Huang, J. (2009) A Division Through Time. [online] http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/11/09/world/europe/20091109-berlinwallthennow.html?ref=europe

N.Y.Times Readers' View from the Wall

This is a collection of the New York Times readers' photos and memories of the Wall (Huang et al, 2009). Hovering over the image displays a larder size, and clicking on the image will expand the image which is assisted by the reader's caption. As of 23 November 2009, there are 226 photographic images on the page.

Huang, J., Tarchak, L., Fang, C, and Delviscio, J. (2009) The View From the Wall. [online] http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/11/09/world/europe/20091109-berlin-wall-reader-photos.html#/0

5 Video Episodes on Guardian

Here are 5 historical and geographical journeys of the Wall by the Guardian team. "Watch them this week on your computer or take them as a downloadable travel guide on your own walk of the wall" (Guardian, 2009).

Episode 1: Building the Wall

Episode 2: Life on Both Sides

Episode 3: Resistance in a Communist State

Episode 4: The Fall of the Berlin Wall

Episode 5: 20 Years Ffter the Fall

Guardian (2009) Berlin Wall: 20 Years On. [online] http://www.guardian.co.uk/berlin-wall-20-years-on

Lovell, R., Panetta, F. and Bennett, C. (2009) Episode 1: Building the Wall. [online]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2009/oct/19/building-berlin-wall

Lovell, R., Panetta, F. and Bennett, C. (2009) Episode 2: Life on Both Sides. [online]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2009/oct/20/berlin-wall-episode-2

Lovell, R., Panetta, F. and Bennett, C. (2009) Episode 3: Resistance in a Communist State. [online]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2009/oct/20/berlin-wall-episode-3

Lovell, R., Panetta, F. and Bennett, C. (2009) Episode 4: The Fall of the Berlin Wall. [online]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2009/oct/22/fall-of-berlin-wall

Lovell, R., Panetta, F. and Bennett, C. (2009) Episode 5: 20 Years Ffter the Fall. [online]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2009/oct/22/berlin-wall-germany-unification

The Wende Museum's Berlin Wall Project

"Twenty years ago, the Berlin Wall was torn down. Now, original segments of the wall are on display in front of 5900 Wilshire, across the street from LACMA. While it stood, the wall served as a public art canvas for graffiti and protests. While in Los Angeles, artist Shepard Fairey and muralist Kent Twitchell will paint on these segments. Historian Steven Ross discusses the project with the founder of the Wende Museum, muralist Twitchel and others." (Odeo, 2009)

Odeo (2009)  The Wende Museum's Berlin Wall Project. [online] http://odeo.com/episodes/25390163-The-Wende-Museum-s-Berlin-Wall-Project

German Art and the Cold War

A.R. Penck, Übergang , 1963, Öl auf Leinwand, 94 x 120, Ludwig Forum Aachen, (c) VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2009

Kulturprojekte Berlin [2009] Kunst und Kalter Krieg – Deutsche Positionen 1945-1989. [online] http://www.kulturprojekte-berlin.de/projekte/fuehrungsnetz/fuehrungsnetz/programm/erwachsene/5/

http://www.kulturprojekte-berlin.de/en/projects/art-of-two-germanys-cold-war-cultures/

Artists Reflect on 20 Years

Tim Roeloffs, "Berlin Works" (photo montage), 1992-2009

"Everyone's got an opinion on the anniversary of Germany's symbolic moment of freedom. But we asked the ones who can really interpret history" (Wilder, 2009)

Wilder (2009) interviewed 8 contemporary artists, photographers and film-makers to interpret and to describe how "more perspective than ever".

"After the wall was destroyed and Checkpoint Charlie [was] erased from the city map, the area became a regular crossroad with regular traffic... I wanted to reach this large number of people — that's why there are no texts or interactive installation[s] but a light box in the middle of the street. It does imitate advertising aesthetics, but it is not advertisement. It functions as a visualized traffic sign — like a question mark standing in the middle of the street." (Thiel, in Wilder, 2009)

Frank Thiel, Permanent Installation at Former
 Checkpoint Charlie (photograph), 1994/1998 

Wilder, C. (2009) The Berlin Wall: How Today's Art Reflects 20 Years of Memories. [online] http://www.esquire.com/the-side/feature/berlin-wall-art-110909

The Berlin Twitter Wall

Digital media is playing an important part of the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's opening (Bunz, 2009). As well as websites with historical and narrative footage, people can "share your thoughts on the historic Fall of the Wall and post a wish for the future" at the Berlin Twitter Wall, a project run by Kulturprojekte Berlin as part of the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Wall [The Berlin Twitter Wall, 2009]. The project also focuses on "which walls still have to come down to make our wold a better place" and allows 5 posts daily to prevent spam (Bunz, 2009).

Bunz, M. (2009) The Fall of the Berlin Wall in Digital Media. [online]  http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2009/nov/09/fall-of-berlin-wall-digital-media-social-networks

Fest der freiheit [2009] http://www.mauerfall09.de/

Kulturprojekte Berlin [2009] http://www.kulturprojekte-berlin.de/

The Berlin Twitter Wall [2009] http://www.berlintwitterwall.com/

Renting Virtual Berlin Wall

The Wall Beta [2009] http://www.wallofberlin.com/

Mauer Matress

Euronews (2009) Design: Berlin Wall Matresses. [online] http://www.euronews.net/images_old/09/W300px_lemag-mauermatratzen.jpg

Mauer-Mob Recreates Wall

The Mauer Mob relies on the organisational power of internet to create a "temporary monument of reflection" (Bunz, 2009). 33,000 people are asked to stand for 15 minutes, marking the path where the Wall once stood. Facebook and other social media helped organise people to the event (Bunz, 2009).

Bunz, M. (2009) The fall of the Berlin Wall in Digital Media. [online] http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2009/nov/09/fall-of-berlin-wall-digital-media-social-networks

Mauer Mob [2009] 33.000 Menschenstellen die Berliner Mauer wieder her. [online]
http://www.mauer-mob.com/home.php

2009 Lamp Shade

FOC (2009) FOC Celebrates the Fall of Berlin Wall. [online] http://www.freedomofcreation.com/home/foc-celebrates-the-fall-of-berlin-wall

Berlin Wall 3D Animation

Frey, C. [2009] The Berlin Wall. [online] http://www.freypark.com/designer/selected/berliner_mauer/0.html/?screenres=2

A Photo Collection of East and West Berlin

Anstendig, M.B. [2009]  http://anstendig.com/Berlin%20Photos/Berlin%20Images/brandenburg%20Gate%20SF.jpg

Time: The Berlin Wall

[Photographs: Robert Lacke]

"As tensions grew between the Soviet bloc and the western allies, passage between the zones shrank to a trickle. In 1961, the split was formalized with the construction of a wall."

Time [2009] The Berlin Wall: The Rise and Fall of the Barrier between East and West. [online] http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1631993,00.html

Art of Two Germanys Timeline

"Churchill’s Iron Curtain metaphor becomes reality: the Berlin Wall, erected by the government of the GDR, not only definitively separates the two German states and creates an isolated West Berlin, it tears apart families and communities and buries the last hopes for reconciliation." (LACMA, 2009a)

LACMAa (2009) 1961 Wall of Shame or Protective Barrier? [online] http://www.lacma.org/a2gs/A2G/1961.html
LACMAb (2009) The Art of Two Germanys: Cold War Cultures. [online] http://www.lacma.org/a2gs/A2G/home.html

Art of Two Germanys exhibition

LACMA (2009) Art of Two Germanys/Cold War Cultures. [online]  http://www.lacma.org/art/images/exhibitions/bergemann390.jpg

CBC Berlin Wall

CBC [2009] Berlin Wall: 20 Years After the Wall. [online] http://www.signandsight.com/features/1867.html

National Geographic: Berlin Wall

National Geographic Channel [2009] Berlin Wall. [online]
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/berlin-wall-2521/Photos#tab-Videos/02086_03

Steh auf Berlin!

Steh auf Berlin! from Kathi Kaeppel on Vimeo.

Kaeppel, K. [2009] Steh auf Berlin! [online] http://www.vimeo.com/7062219

Listening Post

Science Museum [2009] Listening Post. [online] http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/about_us/about_the_museum/art/listening_post.aspx

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisstar/2508579169/in/photostream/

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/arts/design/25vide.html?_r=1

http://atc.berkeley.edu/bio/Ben_Rubin/

Time Management

Coverly, D. (2009) [online] http://images.ucomics.com/comics/crspe/2009/crspe091030.gif

Beck's Berlin Wall

Beck's Berlin Wall from The Precinct on Vimeo.

The Precinct [2009] Beck's Berlin Wall. [online] http://www.vimeo.com/7138796

Face à Face

face à face from charles coiffier on Vimeo.

Coiffier, C. [2009] Face à face. [online] http://www.vimeo.com/2485528

The Iron Curtain Diaries - Trailer

The Iron Curtain Diaries - Trailer from Prospekt Photographers on Vimeo.

Prospekt Photographers [2009] The Iron Curtain Diaries - Trailer. [online] http://www.vimeo.com/7396111

Virtuelle Mauer: An Interview with Tamiko Thiel

Taylor, J. [2009] Virtuelle Mauer: An Interview with Tamiko Thiel. [online] http://www.onscreenmag.com/feature-articles/virtuelle-mauer-an-interview-with-tamiko-thiel/

Tree at Checkpoint Charlie

Heijdens, S. [2009] Tree. [online] http://www.simonheijdens.com/

The Rise and the Fall

This BBC news footage was first broadcast on 16th August 1961, only 3 days after the construction of the Wall began. The reporter claims that the border guards allowed some people to cross the border at this time [BBC, 2009]. The clip below is a news report from Berlin aired on 10th November 1989, a day after the Berlin Wall was opened  to the people to cross freely.

BBC [2009] The Berlin Boundary Is Sealed. [online] http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/berlinwall/8207.shtml?all=2&id=8207

BBC [2009] Fall of the Berlin Wall. [online] http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/berlinwall/8224.shtml?all=2&id=8224

"It's More than You Imagined"

"The HBO Cube embraces the spirit of HBO telling deeper more engaging stories in innovative ways. Demonstrating that a change in perspective changes everything." [HBO, 2009]

The Cube shows a scene shot by four cameras from different angles, and the HBO claims, "only when you've seen all four sides of the story will you see the bigger picture". Each scenes are positioned in a space where the viewer can select which scene to watch next (below), and view their progress as a diagram (bottom).

How each scenes are connected with lines in dark space remind me of space, stars and constellations. Each image forms a larger picture.

HBO [2009] It's More than You Imagined. [online] http://hboimagine.com/

Art and Politics

"In 2009, the commemoration involves recreations of some of the art work – controversially – and the Goethe Maurriese project which also, not without problems, focus only upon artistic elements and wholly ignore, for various politically sensitive reasons, questions about the political wall, the place of the former DDR in contemporary Germany, the changes since unification, and the ways this symbol of division has become a marketing tool for a new (hygienic) Berlin." (Hutnyk, 2009)

Hutnyk, J. (2009) Eleven Theses on Art and Politics, #10 & #11 (not the last). [online]
http://hutnyk.wordpress.com/2009/11/08/eleven-theses-on-art-and-politics-10-11-not-the-last/