Preserving the Berlin Wall puts murals at risk

Adam Williams at Reuters: “Politicians and artists urged Berlin’s authorities on Monday to let them rebuild the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall before it decays beyond recognition as a reminder of the city’s grim history. In the spring of 1990, when most of the city was itching to tear down its most hated symbol, 118 artists from 24 countries flocked to Berlin to paint murals on a 1,300 meter (1,500 yard) section of the wall, turning it into the East Side Gallery. Exactly 46 years after the Wall was built around capitalist West Berlin — ostensibly to protect communist easterners from its influence, but in fact to prevent them fleeing there — the gaudy Gallery is now one of Berlin’s top tourist attractions.” Read more.