Advert for the celebration in Madrid of the 25th anniversary of the fall of Berlin Wall./ Photo: German Embassy
Julio García. Madrid
The fall of the Berlin Wall, on 9 November 1989, one of the most relevant historical events worldwide of the XX century, celebrates its 25th anniversary next Sunday. To mark the occasion, the German Embassy in Spain has chosen the Puerta de Alcalá as a projection screen for a video-mapping, thanks to which it will become the Brandenburg Gate; to remember the peaceful revolution that the bringing down of the wall signified, and that opened the doors to the reunification of Germany and Europe.
During the press conference to introduce the cultural activities for this celebrations, the press attaché for the German embassy in Madrid, Martin Langer, stated that today, at 21:00 hrs, the six minute commemorative video would be projected, at an act which would be attended by the Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, among other figures. The audio-visual arrangement, by Manuel Coronado, will be repeated until midnight that day, and after that, a shorter version, of about 2 minutes in length and with no sound, will be projected until 9 November.
Langer underscored that the video is a means of getting closer to an event of great historical importance, not only for Germany, but also for Europe and the world. The German legation in Madrid thanked Spain for their involvement, from the start, in the process of German reunifications, which led to the fall of the Wall.
The Madrid City Council is participating in this act, and their Art, Sport and Tourism delegate, Pedro Corral, stated that the celebrations will serve, not to change history, but to refresh the proclamation made then, that there be no more walls, no more divisions, and work towards freedom, unity and justice.
From Friday to Sunday, a light show will fuse the symbols of Madrid and Berlin
Other cultural initiatives include the “25th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall” exhibition, at the CentroCentro from 4 to 30 November. A photographic and documentary journey through the construction, life and fall of this Cold War icon. In addition, also at the CentroCentro, the Hungarian embassy’s photographic display – Hungary: Sculpted Freedom”, recalls the political events that took place in this country and Central Europe in the years 1988 and 1989.
For their part, the Cineteca at the Matadero, is organising from 10 to 19 November, a documentary and film series titled “1989, the year that changed Europe”, which is based around the Iron Curtain countries. The exhibition “Walls between men”, by Alexandra Novosseloff and Frank Neisse can also be visited.
