Free Walking Tour Berlin

When: Every day 10am & 12pm every day
Where: The meeting point is in front of the ehemaliges Kaiserliches Postfuhramt Berlin, Oranienburger Straße, 10117 Berlin, Germany, next to the entrance.
Price: Free

BLU to Black

by | Oct 22, 2024 | Original Berlin

If you walk over the Oberbaumbrücke in Berlin your attention is drawn over the water to look as the vast artworks of Italian graffiti artist BLU. These 2 murals are famous murals in Berlin and especially the district of Neukolln or Kreuzberg that many people would like to check for themselves. Despite or maybe because the murals are one of most photographed murals in the city few can forget the feeling of standing in front of them and discovering their message; however, on night of December eleven, 2014 people would never experience that emotion again.

Created in 2008 this pieces present a connection with the Kreuzberg culture and are deeper than just a mural. They have over the years grown to be one of the area’s main attractions hovering over the ‘Frei Cuvry’ Brache where the Cuvry residents were evicted from and later on the demolition of the largest inner city squat in Berlin. Ever since they have been guarding the vast barren land and have been enclosed to prevent people coming too close to them.

This wasteland now lies dormant awaiting construction of an apartment building despite so many efforts which sought to halt this development. After Cuvry was shut down the paintings were the last chance of preserving the territory from redevelopment into a commercial zone and to stay open as a free area but it was not to be. I received a number of e-mails from my friend in Berlin and this is what she said: “On the morning of December 12 Berliners woke to discover their beloved murals painted over with thick black paint.”

Originally it was unclear who had erased the murals but provided that all other graffiti art had remained unaltered (which goes to show that the …was treated with respect) one could perhaps infer that the BLU himself had done this or at least gave permission to do so.

People were speculating that it was the investors whoe or the city who has ordered the murals to be removed. For approximately a week more confusion ensued in an area before an explanation came from those involved.

In an article from co-creator Lutz Henke, he said that, “we felt it was time for them to disappear, and the period in the history of Berlin.” Such murals were representing Kreuzberg which is now changing, the Kreuzberg that made them famous.

As the murals were completed it was only 7 years and it has become a tourist and art centre attracting guided tours on Berlin City Marketing, used as back drops in weeding photosooting, music videos shooting, acting shots, documentary and as people’s gate of Brandenburg street art.

The area also called the Wrangelkiez has experienced new rent increase accompanied by the new qualitative boost in cafes, restaurants, shops and other attractive for tourists establishments leading to the extraordinary growth of gentrification in the area. Being the kind of creative space and artistic brand it is, though, the money makers behind this movement are biting the hand that feeds, so to speak. The artistic movement is in danger due to the raising prices for housing and the people who are handling the art cannot afford living in that neighborhood.

Lutz Henke said that, What would make an artist sign a contract of the destruction of his work in preference to an official endeavor to maintain it as a work of public art? Out of despair? Clearly not. Rather out of sorrow”

While removing, one of them was changed with its hand ‘giving the finger’ to the onlooker but the black was also pained on its hand. Maybe directed towards investors but could also be the frustration of the artists who gave up the fight against gentrification.

Sometimes now that we have had time to accept it we are able to move on and keep in mind that that form of artwork is made quite temporary, susceptible to the forces of nature, and was never meant to last a lifetime.

Thank you for reading. If you're inspired by the stories of Berlin and want to delve deeper, why not join us on our Free Berlin Walking Tour? It's a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the city's rich history and vibrant culture. We look forward to welcoming you soon.

WHAT TO EXPECT

  • 3.5 hours walking tour
  • Berlin’s major highlights
  • Brandenburg Gate
  • Reichstag and Berlin Wall
  • Historical sites

Free Walking Tour Berlin

When: Every day 10am & 12pm every day
Where: The meeting point is in front of the ehemaliges Kaiserliches Postfuhramt Berlin, Oranienburger Straße, 10117 Berlin, Germany, next to the entrance.
Price: Free