The exposition, which opened its doors on the 9th of November 2023, has already welcomed over 135,000 visitors in Sala Castellana 214, of Fundación Canal in Madrid.
When asked to describe the exhibition in 3 words, Dr. Christian Ostermann, Director of the History and Public Policy Program and the Cold War International History Project at the Wilson Center in Washington, and one of the Chief Curators of “The Berlin Wall. A World Divided” chooses the terms, “complexity, global change and hope”. Indeed, it is not possible to understand the history of the XXth century, without the complex philosophical, ideological, and geopolitical confrontation, that symbolizes the Berlin Wall.
Within this complexity, the exhibition explores the story of the Berlin Wall within the context of the Cold War. As Gerhard Sälter, Chief Curator of this exhibition and head of Research department of the Berlin Wall Foundation articulates, “by visiting the exhibition you can have a feeling of how it was to live on one of the front lines of the Cold War”. Moreover, it aims to shed light on a facet often overlooked by history books: the human experience. It provides insights on “how it was for people to have this experience from day to day” Sälter adds.
Created by Musealia in collaboration with the Berlin Wall Foundation – The German public institution dedicated to preserving the Wall’s historical legacy and honoring its victims – and curated by an international team of historians and experts, the exhibition spans an estimated duration of 2-3 hours across 2,500 square meters. It showcases over 300 original objects, including a remarkable 20 meters of the Berlin Wall itself, alongside never-before-seen testimonies from those who lived through this pivotal period in history.
Madrid will stand as the exclusive Spanish host to “The Berlin Wall. A World Divided”, offering a unique opportunity for locals and visitors alike to engage with this iconic exhibition. To enrich the experience further, Musealia has initiated a dynamic cultural program launching this February. This program aims to unite notable figures and pertinent topics, making them accessible to all who are interested. Kicking off this series of events, Felipe González, the former Spanish president who held office during the fall of the Berlin Wall, will be visiting the exhibition and sharing his testimony in a conversation that will be available online.
