My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love

"My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love" also known as the "Fraternal Kiss" is one of the most renowned graffiti artworks on the Berlin Wall. Created by Dmitri Vrubel in 1990, the piece vividly depicts a socialist fraternal kiss between Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and East German leader Erich Honecker. This striking image is based on a photograph taken during the 30th anniversary celebration of the German Democratic Republic in 1979.

The original photograph, captured by Régis Bossu in East Berlin, memorialized the moment when Brezhnev visited East Germany to mark its establishment as a Communist nation. Over time, Vrubel's mural has become one of the most iconic pieces of Berlin Wall art, symbolizing the complex and often paradoxical relationships during the Cold War era.

Creating the painting posed significant challenges for Vrubel. He had to navigate bureaucratic obstacles to obtain permission to paint on the eastern side of the Berlin Wall. Though he was required to relinquish his rights to the artwork, he succeeded in realizing his vision. Unfortunately, the mural suffered from vandalism and weather-induced deterioration over the years. In 2009, it was removed to be repainted using more durable materials. Vrubel was commissioned to recreate the piece, enabling him to make some stylistic enhancements while preserving its powerful message.

The mural has elicited mixed reactions. Some praise it as a bold and satirical piece of graffiti art, while others criticize it for being a direct copy of the photograph. Vrubel, however, emphasizes that the painting's significance lies in its characters and the historical context, symbolizing unity and love amidst the stark division of the Berlin Wall.

The impact of "My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love" extends beyond its original creation. It has inspired various derivative works, such as a 2016 Lithuanian mural featuring a similar kiss between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, and a mural in Bristol depicting Donald Trump and Boris Johnson in a comparable pose. This iconic piece of Berlin Wall graffiti continues to resonate, leaving a lasting mark on art and culture.