Balancing act (Berlin)
The sculpture Balanceakt is the work of the German sculptor Stephan Balkenhol . It stands in front of the Axel Springer high-rise on the corner of Axel-Springer-Strasse and Zimmerstrasse in the Berlin district of Kreuzberg .
construction
The work consists of a man with black trousers and a white shirt, who is balanced on a section of the Berlin Wall , as well as eleven original parts of the wall placed around the man. The memorial is intended to commemorate German reunification and, in particular, the fall of the Berlin Wall . The figure, including the section of the wall, is 5.7 meters high and weighs 750 kilograms. The man is made of concrete and painted bronze .
symbolism
With the picture, Balkenhol wants to bring the thoughts of many people about the fall of the wall in a nutshell: "Establishing and maintaining balance". This should make it clear that, even in times of upheaval, it is important not to fall into an extreme (or even “fall”), but rather to maintain a calm balance. Balkenhol is quoted in this context as saying: “For me, the secret of a functioning public sculpture is that it is able to make the place where it stands exist. The power of such a sculpture flows from the tension that arises between sculpture and location; it makes the place tangible by being able to enter into a dialogue with the place in terms of content and form. ”The wall only ran a few meters past the site of the monument.
inauguration
The sculpture was unveiled on May 25, 2009 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of the Axel Springer House. Former Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker gave the keynote speech, pointing out that the publisher Axel Springer was one of those people for whom reunification was not just an empty phrase . He said: “The advocacy of overcoming the division of Germany was a state goal , the preamble to the Basic Law kept the thought alive, politicians mentioned the topic in their speeches - some not only on Sundays. Nevertheless, Axel Springer was probably one of the very few who really believed in reunification. How happy he would be if he could experience that we are not only commemorating the 50th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of his house, but also the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. ”The Chairman of Axel-Springer AG, Mathias Döpfner , pointed out in his speech pointed out: "At the same time, the sculpture reminds us that dealing with the freedom we have gained always remains something uncertain and fluctuating - a balancing act."
Property damage
On the night of March 17, 2012, strangers stepped on the work of art and poured an orange-red paint over the sculpture. Employees of the publishing house then covered the figure with a black fabric. It is not known whether the damage to property is related to the celebrations for Axel Springer's 100th birthday.
Others
West of the balancing act there has been a memorial plaque for Ronald Reagan since June 12, 2012, which commemorates his famous words in front of the Brandenburg Gate on the 25th anniversary : “Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall. "
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Uta Baier Cross-border commuters in front of the Axel Springer House. In: The world . dated May 25, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
- ↑ a b 50 years of the Axel Springer House Berlin - unveiling of the sculpture “Balancing Act” by Stephan Balkenhol. Press release from Axel Springer Verlag dated May 25, 2009. Accessed on February 9, 2011.
- ^ Sculpture "Balancing act" at Springer-Verlag doused with paint In: Berliner Zeitung . dated March 18, 2012, accessed March 20, 2012.
- ↑ Axel Springer honors Ronald Reagan , Axel Springer AG press release of June 12, 2012, accessed on September 1, 2012.
Coordinates: 52 ° 30 '28.7 " N , 13 ° 23' 55.1" E