Vandals from the New Generation Strike East Side Gallery's Iconic "Brother's Kiss"
Activists of the new era engage in the practice of disrespectfully performing a affectionate "brotherly kiss".
Breaking tradition, the once Last Generation is expanding its sphere of influence, and in Berlin, that means protesting what they see as a Middle Eastern genocide. This time, a Berlin tourist hotspot has landed in the crosshairs.
The infamous "Brother's Kiss" mural at the East Side Gallery has become an unfortunate canvas for activists hailing from the now New Generation. They painted over the portrait using a red inscription echoing the Middle East conflict, as announced by representatives in the German capital.
The Berlin police confirmed the incident involving the painting, featuring the former KPdSU General Secretary Leonid Breschnew and the former DDR State Council Chairman Erich Honecker. This artwork, portraying the brotherly kiss of two state leaders in October 1979 when they signed an economic agreement, was created by Russian artist Dmitri Vrubel in 1990. Sadly, Vrubel passed away in 2022 from a coronavirus infection at the age of 62 in Berlin.
Three individuals were apprehended, and investigations are underway for joint criminal damage, according to a spokesperson. The activists aimed to express their discontent with the situation in the Gaza Strip and Germany's arms supply to Israel through this action. In the past, segments of the Berlin Wall have been marked with Middle Eastern-related slogans.
Radical Islamic Hamas instigated the war in the Gaza Strip with their assault on Israel on October 7, 2023. Since this episode, Israel has responded with significant military aggression in the Palestinian territory. In recent years, the Last Generation gained notoriety for blockade actions and paint attacks on climate demands. Now rebranded as New Generation, they have shifted their themes and methods of protest.
The East Side Gallery, a landmark in Berlin dating back to 1990, hosts over 100 murals painted by international artists on a remaining section of the Berlin Wall. As a powerful symbol of freedom and reunification following the wall's fall in 1989, it is considered one of the largest and most important collections of political street art globally.
While motives behind the New Generation's vandalism are not entirely clear, their attacks on historical art such as the East Side Gallery might stem from a desire to challenge or critique contemporary cultural narratives, express dissent against perceived commercialization or state control of public art, or draw attention to new political concerns by modifying a prominent icon of freedom.
These incidents underscore the intricate balance between preserving historical art and the evolving nature of street art and activism in Berlin. The East Side Gallery is protected by fencing, but with high visitor numbers, particularly during warmer months, vandalism challenges remain persistent.
Source: ntv.de, jwu/AFP* New Generation* Protest* Berlin* Street Art
[1] https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/08/world/gaza-strip-israel-violence-explainer/index.html[2] https://www.eastsidegallery-berlin.com/en/home/[3] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/27/russian-muralist-dmitri-vrubel-dies-in-berlin-at-age-62[4] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61082934[5] https://www.history.com/news/east-germans-climb-berlin-wall-30-years-ago-today
- The protests by the New Generation in Berlin show that their political concerns extend beyond climate issues, as they recently vandalized the East Side Gallery's iconic "Brother's Kiss" mural to express discontent with the situation in the Gaza Strip.
- The environmental policy discussions within the community must consider the impact on the environment, such as the vandalism at the East Side Gallery, which, though a symbol of freedom and cultural heritage, may be adversely affected by such actions.
