EAST SIDE GALLERY - Restoration in 2009

 

The restoration is ongoing. First jackhammers are used to free the steel reinforcements in the wall from the concrete segments. Next, they are painted with rust protection. Then, the whole surface is steamed at 80° celcius to remove the remaining color from the wall. As a result, the wall becomes a uniform grey color and appears as it did during the Cold War. This is a very rare sight. Next, the holes and spaces between the segments are filled with a special concrete. Afterwards, an elastic coat made of concrete and glass fibers is added to the wall, followed by two layers of white primer. Now the artists are able to recreate the images that they painted in 1990.