Residents and Artists Battle to Protect Berlin Wall

A kilometer long section of the iconic Berlin Wall known as the 'East Side Gallery' is to be removed to enable construction workers to create access to a luxury block of flats. Local residents and artists have been demonstrating against the decision, arguing that it is a critical piece of history that must not be taken down.

Published

3 months ago

Categories

Arts & Society

Topics

Arts & Culture

Places

Germany, Berlin

Transcript

SHOTLIST: BERLIN, FEBRUARY 28, 2013. SOURCE: AFPTV SOUNBITE 1, Thierry Noir, artist, 22 sec (man, in French) "We are here to stop the project because it is shameful that Berlin is getting rid of the East Side Gallery which is a kind of memorial to the wall. We are painting the wall not to become famous but to protect it. It is quite strange because beforehand we wanted to see the wall disappear and now we are here to protect it." [In French: "On est là pour arrêter ce projet, parce que c'est vraiment une honte pour Berlin d'enlever la East Side Gallery, qui représente la mémoire du mur. On a peint ce mur, pas pour devenir célèbre mais pour le protéger. C'est assez bizarre parce qu'avant on voulait voir le mur disparaître et maintenant on est là pour le protéger."] SOUNDBITE 2, Michael Braun, CDU Deputy for Berlin region, 26 sec (man, en German) "We are all surprised by this development, it is like the "Night and Fog" directives. we have decided to find a solution. But first we need to get some legal advice. I can't say if we are going to suceed but I do know that we are going to find ways to preserve this part of the wall, this work of art." (In German: "Wir sind heute alle von dieser Entwicklung überrascht worden. Das war eine "Nacht und Nebel" aktion. Wir sind bemüht, eine Lösung zu finden. Dazu müssen wir uns erstmal ein bisschen Juristizberat schlaken. Ob es gelingt wird, kann ich nicht sagen, aber ich bin ganz sicher wir werden allen politischen Weg und Mittel finden um dieses Mauerstück und um dieses Kunstwerk zu erhalten.") Images: -VAR of the work underway -VAR Thierry Noir -VAR Michael Braun -VAR of the wall -Stiil image of the project (SOURCE: AFP PHOTO / LIVING BAUHAUS / NPS TCHOBAN VOSS) RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO /LIVING BAUHAUS / NPS TCHOBAN VOSS " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS