35 years since the fall of the Wall. 17 perspectives

A video installation

The video installation shows conversations with 17 contemporary witnesses about their experience of the fall of the Wall in 1989 and what the Peaceful Revolution meant for their lives.

This year marks 35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. November 9, 1989 is being commemorated in Germany this year as a significant historical date. The fall of the Berlin Wall was perceived worldwide as a symbol of the end of the Cold War and for the people of East and West Berlin and the GDR in particular, it was a particularly poignant personal event. However, the perception of the fall of the Wall is more than just a "happy ending" to German-German post-war history.

In people's memories and experiences, it is much more complex and does not always have a positive connotation. It is a happy date because it was accompanied by freedom of travel and the opening of the border. At the same time, the transformation process brought difficult changes such as unemployment and insecurity and a political development with growing racism and exclusion as well as new professional and private development opportunities.

The video installation shows conversations with 17 contemporary witnesses about their experience of the fall of the Wall in 1989 and what the Peaceful Revolution meant for their lives.

Runtime: Fri, 27/09/2024 to Sat, 15/02/2025

Takes place here:

• Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer