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| Bid to rescue Berlin Wall artwork | Bid to rescue Berlin Wall artwork |
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| For decades the Berlin Wall was the physical symbol of the Cold War "Iron Curtain" between East and West. | For decades the Berlin Wall was the physical symbol of the Cold War "Iron Curtain" between East and West. |
| But since it was breached in 1989, one remaining part of the wall has taken on a new role, as a 1.3km art gallery. | But since it was breached in 1989, one remaining part of the wall has taken on a new role, as a 1.3km art gallery. |
| Age and graffiti have taken their toll on the art, however, and a 2.2m euro project is now under way to restore it. | Age and graffiti have taken their toll on the art, however, and a 2.2m euro project is now under way to restore it. |
| Organisers say the East Side Gallery is a tribute to those who died, and hope work will be complete by 2009 - the 20th anniversary of the wall's fall. | Organisers say the East Side Gallery is a tribute to those who died, and hope work will be complete by 2009 - the 20th anniversary of the wall's fall. |
| In January 1989, East German leader Erich Honecker proclaimed that the Berlin Wall, built to prevent people escaping from Soviet-controlled East Berlin to the West, could stand for another 100 years. | In January 1989, East German leader Erich Honecker proclaimed that the Berlin Wall, built to prevent people escaping from Soviet-controlled East Berlin to the West, could stand for another 100 years. |
| If we don't restore it now it will be too late Kani Alavi But a few months later, the wall was breached by thousands of East Germans, in a powerful sign of the collapse of the Soviet power. | If we don't restore it now it will be too late Kani Alavi But a few months later, the wall was breached by thousands of East Germans, in a powerful sign of the collapse of the Soviet power. |
| The following year, Berlin invited 118 international artists to decorate the remaining section of the wall with colourful murals, many of them depicting the story behind the structure. | The following year, Berlin invited 118 international artists to decorate the remaining section of the wall with colourful murals, many of them depicting the story behind the structure. |
| Iconic images, such as an East German Trabant car crashing through the brickwork and a passionate fraternal kiss between Honecker and Soviet leader Leonard Brezhnev, have become a staple of tourist photographs and an important part of Berlin's heritage. | Iconic images, such as an East German Trabant car crashing through the brickwork and a passionate fraternal kiss between Honecker and Soviet leader Leonard Brezhnev, have become a staple of tourist photographs and an important part of Berlin's heritage. |
| Souvenir hunters | Souvenir hunters |
| But the curators of the East Side Gallery say the 106 paintings created two decades ago are now barely recognisable. | But the curators of the East Side Gallery say the 106 paintings created two decades ago are now barely recognisable. |
| They say weather, pollution, time and souvenir hunters armed with chisels have left the wall "extremely deteriorated". | They say weather, pollution, time and souvenir hunters armed with chisels have left the wall "extremely deteriorated". |
| Some of the iconic images are now almost unrecognisable"If we don't restore it now it will be too late," said Kani Alavi, of the East Side Gallery Artists' Association. | Some of the iconic images are now almost unrecognisable"If we don't restore it now it will be too late," said Kani Alavi, of the East Side Gallery Artists' Association. |
| Each of the paintings will be removed and then repainted, and the association say it has invited many of the original artists to recreate their images. | Each of the paintings will be removed and then repainted, and the association say it has invited many of the original artists to recreate their images. |
| In total, about 80% have been contacted and the association has asked for help in finding the rest. | In total, about 80% have been contacted and the association has asked for help in finding the rest. |
| "We have gone to a lot of effort to track down the artists," said Mr Alavi, who was himself responsible for one of the artworks. "It must be authentic." | "We have gone to a lot of effort to track down the artists," said Mr Alavi, who was himself responsible for one of the artworks. "It must be authentic." |
| Where artists have died or cannot be contacted, the organisation will commission others to recreate works, remaining true to the original. | Where artists have died or cannot be contacted, the organisation will commission others to recreate works, remaining true to the original. |
| The 2.2m euro ($3m, £1.75m) project began on Wednesday and organisers hope the gallery will be restored to former glory by 9 November next year, two decades after it fell. | The 2.2m euro ($3m, £1.75m) project began on Wednesday and organisers hope the gallery will be restored to former glory by 9 November next year, two decades after it fell. |
| Construction of the Berlin Wall began in 1961, in an attempt to stop the flow of millions of people from East to West. | Construction of the Berlin Wall began in 1961, in an attempt to stop the flow of millions of people from East to West. |
| The original barbed wire barrier was gradually replaced with 5m (15ft) concrete panels and the structure eventually extended 165km along the border, 45km of it cutting through Berlin. | The original barbed wire barrier was gradually replaced with 5m (15ft) concrete panels and the structure eventually extended 165km along the border, 45km of it cutting through Berlin. |
| About 1,065 people were killed trying to escape from East Germany, scores of them at the Berlin Wall. | About 1,065 people were killed trying to escape from East Germany, scores of them at the Berlin Wall. |
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| Did you visit the Berlin Wall? Do you have photographs of the wall? | |
| Contact the BBC website using the post form below, or send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Contact the BBC website using the post form below, or send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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