BERLIN WALL BALLOONS!

MAUERFALL 2014

The most incredible and inspiring thing is about to happen in Europe.
If you haven't read about it already I need to tell you, plesae read on or get online and book yourself a flight to Berlin for the weekend!
When the Berlin Wall or "iron curtain" was built back in 1961, it literally went up overnight. Created from barbed wire, concrete walls, landmines and watch towers. The 'Eastern Bloc' claimed that the wall was created to protect its population from fascist elements conspiring to prevent the "will of the people" building a socialist state in East Germany but really it was designed to prevent a mass emigration that marked East Germany and the communist Eastern Bloc during the post-World War II period.

It split Berlin in half for nearly 30 years, until it came down in 1989 due to radical political changes and the erosion of previous government power. on 9 November 1989 it was announced that citizens could visit West Germany and West Berlin. Crowds of East Germans crossed and climbed onto the wall, joined by West Germans on the other side in a celebratory atmosphere. Over the next few weeks, euphoric public and souvenir hunters chipped away parts of the wall and it collapsed. The destruction of the wall itself began in 1990 and concluded in 1992. The fall of the Berlin Wall paved the way for German reunification and a brand new future.

To mark the anniversary of the fall of the wall, Berlin will once again cut the city in half in the most beautiful and thoughtful concept. In the middle of the night on November 7 it will once again be divided, but this time it won't be done with barbed wire, it'll be done with balloons full of light.

Designed by light artist Christopher Bauder and film maker Marc Bauder,Lichtgrenze is a nearly 10-mile installation which will feature around 8,000 glowing white orbs, marking the original path of the Berlin Wall through the city. For two whole days, the German capital will once again be split between East and West, at least metaphorically. - Words from http://www.fastcodesign.com/

Situated at 6 locations along the path, Lichtgrenze will display historical footage of what life was like in those areas while the wall was up. In addition, every 500 feet along the wall, visitors will be able to find personal anecdotes, memories, and stories, 100 in total, from people who lived on both sides of the Wall, or whose lives were affected by it in some way. - Words from http://www.fastcodesign.com/

The Lightgrenze will stay erected until November 9 at 7 p.m., at which point thousands of volunteers (called balloon patrons) will attach personal messages to the balloons and then disconnect their strings, sending the lit balloons streaking into the sky. But no need to worry about the environmental impact here: the balloons have been specially designed for the event by researchers at the University of Hannover to make sure that they are completely biodegradable.

If you'll be in Berlin in the second week of November, you can volunteer to be a balloon patron here. - Words from http://www.fastcodesign.com/

Art and Design Studio WHITEvoid (whitevoid.com) develops and produces the 8000 battery powered light elements.

bauderfilm (bauderfilm.de) is directing and producing movie loops containing historic footage to be presented on large screens all along the LICHTGRENZE wall memorial installation.

Movie Credits:

Director: Marc Bauder