Berlin Burd

2014 marks the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

On 13 August 1961, the East German authorities built a wall to divide East and West Berlin. This was to prevent the emigration of East Germans defecting from communist rule - travelling to the West and then other Western European countries.

On 9 November 1989, following radical political change, the East German authorities announced that the emigration restrictions were lifted and all citizens could visit West Germany and West Berlin.

A massive celebration erupted with East and West Germans climbing and crossing the wall. I remember that day. I was only 8 years old, so didn't really understand what it meant or what was happening, but I do remember people talking about it.

The actual fall of the wall didn't begin until 1990 and wasn't completed until 1992. It paved the way for German reunification - formally concluded on 3 October 1990.

This is a small scale version of the Berlin Burd - a sculpture by George Wyllie (from Gourock) that was installed at Reinickendorf in 1988. The Burd - a massive political statement representing the fact that Burds can claim their own freedom - was tall enough to look over the wall. This version of the Burd currently lives in Scottish Parliament, where I had a meeting this morning. I rather like it!