Goodbye, Wall (20 years ago) Photo

Photographer’s Note

This week (actually, last Monday) is the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall. As it happens, I was working in London the following spring, and I went over to Berlin to experience it in that in-between time between the collapse of the communist state in November 1989 and the full unification to take place in July 1990.

The city was basically marking time, just waiting for it all to be over. But the wall was already being broken up and sold for souvenirs (I got some), and whole slabs were being shipped off to museums and private collections.

The graffiti on this slab suggests it had the latter destination - though if the word I can't quite read is "sailboat" I have some questions for its captain. Anyway, it was mainly the colorful graffiti on the left - which was scarce by then - that caught my eye.

Technical: Scanned from Kodakchrome slide.

leo61, jwmunro, ktanska has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

leo61 (43100) 2009-11-11 10:38

HI Daniel!
Good shot of these graffities and the rest of the wall in the foreground.
I`ve been some times in Berlin before 89 and there have seen many great and symbolic ones.
Many of them are lost.
I`ll add your photo to my theme:20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Regards,Leo

Morac (20120) 2009-11-11 10:59

Bonsoir Dan,

Cette photo de 1990 est une émouvante contribution à la commémoration des 20 ans de la chute du mur de Berlin
Amicalement
Marc

serp2000 (9293) 2009-11-11 10:59

Hi, Daniel,
Excellent shot! This is some spirit of the past, I don't like the communist epoque, but I remember these times, very optimist sences, Perestroika, Gorbi, The Wind of change of Scorpions in Kremlin!!! All people are brothers...
Today we have another world, without a taste of romantic.
Thanks, Daniel, for your shot and good note!
Serghei

lacroux (3089) 2009-11-11 12:23

Hello Dan
Nice contribution to the commemoration of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
I see that as in every city walls are crumbling street artists to display their work.
Marc was telling hearth.
Beautiful contribution to the remembrance of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
I see that as in all the cities walls in ruin are of use to the artists of street to present their work.
Marc owed telling hearth.
Amicalement.
Pierre.

jwmunro (6567) 2009-11-11 13:27

Hello Dan -

The Wall, it was once a stark reminder of the tensions of the world, but the years have mellowed allowing the taggers and artists to use it as a canvas for their brand of art. What I remember about the wall (October 1968) was the stark dichotomy between east and west. One form of repressive government against an open government all within 100 meters of each other. I guess this is how the people of 1989 felt as they were released from the yoke of oppression. Well composed, with all of the technicals were they should be. Well seen!

Thank you for sharing.

John

ktanska (16470) 2009-11-12 2:42

Hi Daniel,
Interesting, quite surrealist and expressive artwork on that piece of wall. Those words have so much feeling in them, especially just after the fall of the Wall. A good timely shot for the anniversary.
Kari

clio (22514) 2009-11-15 13:59

Hi Dan,
It is a beautiful and interesting testimony. Please show it to us. I like very much these ruins full of hopes which are soon going to disappear. Ruin it is sure, the hopes... I do not know!
Amicalement
Diane