30th Anniversary of the Peaceful Revolution – Fall of the Berlin Wall
For seven days at seven original historical sites, Berlin remembered, celebrated and paid tribute to the Peaceful Revolution and those individuals who had the courage to resist the regime of the GDR.
In November 2019, after similar events held in 2009 and 2014, Berlin once again marked the anniversary of the fall of the Wall, which eventually led to the dissolution of the GDR and ultimately to the unification of Germany in 1990. During the city-wide week of festivities, which were once again organised by our team, over one million people gathered to remember, celebrate and pay tribute to the efforts of those individuals who took to the streets in 1989 to fight for freedom and ended up changing the entire world in the process of what came to be known as the Peaceful Revolution. In cooperation with several partners, we made it possible for visitors to experience history up close at seven sites directly associated with the Peaceful Revolution and the fall of the Berlin Wall. The events that took place at these original historical sites are remembered there to this day; they help to recall and honour key moments associated with the fall of the SED regime, the courage of those individuals who opposed the dictatorship and the overall sense of democratic awakening. The 30th anniversary was an occasion to celebrate, but also an opportunity to remember the victims of the SED dictatorship, to have open, honest and critical discussions and to reflect upon the present and the future.
The “Visions in Motion” art installation thrilled fans all over the world
As part of an art installation called “Visions in Motion” created by US-based artist Patrick Shearn, tens of thousands of wishes, hopes and ideas contributed by 30,000 people were written down on ribbons that formed an eye-catching tapestry hanging over the Straße des 17. Juni at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. These words drew on the phrases, demands and visions written on the posters and banners held by protesters during the Peaceful Revolution. Thousands of people made a pilgrimage to the installation every day to read the messages and to write some of their own on the ribbons.
Eye-catching large-scale 3D projections at original historical sites
On each evening of the festival week, a number of impressive, large-scale 3D video images were projected onto building facades at six locations associated with the Peaceful Revolution. Historical film footage and photos combined with impressive light and sound effects to produce an impressive visual experience. At Alexanderplatz, for example, visitors could watch the protest of hundreds of thousands of demonstrators who confidently stood up to the SED leadership on that very spot on 4 November 1989.
A look back at the festival week
In November 2019, one million people took part in the city-wide week of festivities comprising 200 events and seven open-air exhibitions.