Mark power ‘Die Mauer ist Weg!’
Die mauer ist weg - The wall is gone
Die Mauer ist Weg! by Mark Power has a distinctive documentary approach as the images used are focused around the happening involving the taking down of the Berlin wall. The books title has strong connotations focusing on the fact that they have regained there free dome due to the fact the wall is gone. While the early pages read as news-based photojournalism from the anticipating news and the celebrations. However, as the book unfolds Power retreats away from the epicenter of the event to re-camp over the border in an almost desolate East Berlin. From there he views the story from another perspective, before embarking on a search for Bertolt Brecht’s grave.
The book is both a record of a major 20th century news event and also a piece to project the lessons learnt from the experience as, in the accompanying essay, Power recounts his fascinating tale of chance and choice.
The silkscreen front and back cover is the newspaper from that specific event. The silkscreen print on the front allows for the newspaper to stand out on the cardboard shell of the book. Furthermore, this also creates an interactive aspect to the book as news papers don’t usually have that. The end pages are also from the newspaper however they have been printed normally onto the white card. This occurs at the front and the back of the book. The images have been printed onto matt, thick photography paper. This allows for that old fashion feeling which is consistent through out the book. The images are all double page spreads, this allows for the images to stand out more and personally I think they are more aesthetically pleasing when they have been printed larger. The book is a large portrait which means its signifciatnly larger than a standard portrait photo book. The book is also quite heavy due to the size of the book. The title is very literal and is straight to the point (once translated) of this specific theme of the book and is clearly seen throughout the whole book. I think the way Mark has placed some of the images in the book he is trying to create juxtaposition between two subjects. For example; between the police and normal people. The police are trying to control them and do their job whereas, the people are celebrating due to the fact that wall has been taken down.