The Memorialization of Berlin’s Scars

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As one walks along the streets of Berlin, one can see the recognition of Germany’s past history. During World War II, the conflict has left physical damage to the city of Berlin. 75 years of bullet holes scattered the urban landscape. In particular, the bullet marks are on notable buildings such as the Reichstag, the architecture of Museum Island and an alley by the Hackescher Market. These scars are left there with no official recognition as there are no markers or plaques to give awareness. As there is no official memorialization of the bullet holes, many simply walk past the war’s destruction. In Charlottenburg, the western district of Berlin, an iron bridge is left damaged by the war. Below the pillars, one can see multiple bullet holes between the pillar and the brick wall. As all the bridge’s damages are significant, there is one scar that strongly stands out. One pillar has a very large bullet hole that went directly through the bridge. The bullet hole creates a focus of attention towards the strengths of war. While the hole is clear, there is no recognition to its damage. It is a hidden monument that can be simply passed by. Our group’s intention is to bring the scars from the past into visibility. These scars of the city are parallel to the scars on the human body. The past’s suffering lasts within the body. Our design starts with an individual’s body parts (ankles, head, wrists, hips, and shoulders) tied up by a string. The string is strung through the hole and taped to the other pillar. The body would be wrapped up in the white and red tape to strip away the person’s identity and unify them with the structure. In our interactive installation, we would have audience members pull the string. Pulling the string on the other end of will make a connection to the impact to the body.

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