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Has Died Dmitri Vrubel Famous for The Brezhnev Kiss on Berlin Wall
Vrubel settled in Berlin in 2010.
Dmitri Vrubel, a Russian artist-provocateur who created a now-iconic mural on the Berlin Wall depicting the Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev laying a fat kiss on the mouth of the East German leader Erich Honecker, has died at 62.
His wife, Victoria Timofeeva, revealed the cause was heart failure resulting from a Covid-19 infection. Vrubel settled in Berlin in 2010.
The 1991 painting, which came to symbolize love and transgression in a divided city, is one of the most famous pieces of art that emerged from the Cold War. Vrubel’s work often explored the tensions between East and West, and he was a crucial figure in the post-Soviet art scene.
Vrubel will be remembered as one of his generation’s most provocative and talented artists. RIP Dmitri Vrubel. Thank you for your art.
The mural, which is now a symbol of peace, was a shocking image when it first appeared. It was a transgressive act by the Soviet authorities and many people in the West.
But Vrubel’s work was always about more than just provocation. He was a deeply thoughtful artist who used his art to explore the human condition. His work lasted long after his death. Thank you, Dmitri Vrubel, for your art. Thank you for everything.
