When I was a kid, I liked painting the walls. Well, it was not exactly a painting…there were only some colored lines or little flowers here and there. My parents were desperate but…to me the red ladybirds from the living room walls or the green elephants from the kitchen beautified the place.

I would have never thought to write some mathematical calculations on the wall, not even 1+1=2. Because as children, we have the natural ability to appreciate beauty, even if it’s just a naive and primitive stage. We only need someone to grow this ability within us.  And here comes our childhood hero – the drawing teacher.

But what happens when the drawing teacher fails?

I was thinking about this on Monday, when I saw the excavators starting to demolish the entire Tacheles yard.  I am sure that, at some point, our nowadays business man was a really good boy, that has painted walls and played with colored pencils. It just seems that his economy teacher was better.  And, instead of beauty, he appreciated some other values more.

That’s why, after years of protests, on 4^th of April, this business man started demolishing a historical place, one of the most loved galleries of Berlin situated in the very heart of the city.

On 4^th of April I was there. I was really surprised to notice how empty the place was. Many doors were closed, there was something missing.  And right before asking what’s happening, the excavator behind the building gave me the answer. The colorful history of Tacheles came to an end and the message “I support Tacheles” was just a sticker on a wall.

I felt like turning back in time to ask the drawing teacher “please, explain your kids better what art and beauty are all about”. It may be a time when that simple explanation could make a difference.