French artist Thierry Noir brings Berlin Wall history to North Hollywood

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A North Hollywood apartment complex situated in the arts district just got a makeover by French artist Thierry Noir, known for his iconic work along the Berlin Wall.

Noir was commissioned to paint a 15,000-square-foot mural by MWest Holdings after it purchased the property. It is his largest public work in Los Angeles to date.

Noir's work is described as a symbol of freedom and an act of defiance against walls, borders and persecution.

"Even the German artists refused to paint the Berlin Wall because it was taboo. Me as a foreigner, I was born in France so I came and I had no idea about that, so I broke a taboo," said Noir.

The French artist says he painted about five miles of the wall until it came down. An original piece is now in the Hollywood Hills and his work can also be found in different parts of Los Angeles and around the world.

"I paint in Yokohama and in Santiago de Chile and Paris, everywhere," he said.

Noir describes the bright characters originally designed to ridicule and demystify the Berlin Wall as an homage to eternal youth.

"The eternal youth who come and say, 'What our parents have done is good but we make better,' and I say yes, but do not repeat the mistakes of your parents," Noir said.