Path of the Visionaries

Inauguration of a temporary installation of the Path of Visionaries as part of the Europafestval-Berlin on May 7, 2006

The path of visionaries - a symbol for Europe is an urban art project that will be realized in 2021 at the southern beginning of Friedrichstrasse in Berlin 's Kreuzberg district , near Mehringplatz . It consists of - in rows of three in the floor of the pedestrian zone, 1.2 m² granite slabs with statements from outstanding personalities of the EU member states proposed by the national cultural representatives . The Path of Visionaries is under the patronage of Jean-Claude Juncker , former President of the European Commission. Gerhard Sabathil, former head of the European Commission in Germany, described the path of visionaries as "[...] the first symbol of the European unification process".

The completion of the permanent installation of the Path of the Visionaries is planned for April 2021, when the ongoing redesign of Mehringplatz and the pedestrian zone will be celebrated.

An expansion of the EU project to include all 193 member states of the United Nations under the title Path of the Visionaries of the World is planned. 121 UN member states are already participating in this project.

Path of the Visionaries - EU

Bonger Voges, initiator of the project, in the background the former Berlin Senator for Urban Development Ingeborg Junge-Reyer at the inauguration of the temporary installation in 2006

The project is an initiative of the Kunstwelt e. V. Berlin . The chairman of the board is the lawyer Kristijana Penava, the initiator is the artist Bonger Voges.

The pure construction costs are shared by the State of Berlin Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg , private sponsors and participating embassies . Bonger Voges invited the embassies to name personalities with quotations who stand for the identity, values and culture of their respective countries. The proposals were submitted by the respective embassies or ministries of culture and evaluated by a 40-member jury made up of representatives from science, culture and politics. The selection criteria for the quotations included, in addition to a generally understandable statement, the conveyance of tolerance and international understanding . The project is intended to be a symbol of the unity and diversity of the European Union and contribute to the upgrading of the quarter at the southern end of Berlin's Friedrichstrasse. The official inauguration of a temporary installation (EU) took place on May 7, 2006.

On the 1.2 m² granite slabs there are quotes from the elected representatives, e.g. B. a poet or a writer of the respective country in German , English and in the respective mother tongue. Each of the panels bears an approx. 20 cm × 40 cm backlit flag element of the respective nation. The order in which the tables are laid corresponds to the order in which the respective state was admitted to the European Union.

The technical implementation of the installation is carried out by the sculptor Rainer Fest, Eisenhüttenstadt, the graphic design is by Daniela Haitzler and Marcel Fleiner, Berlin.

Project history

2006: Inauguration of the temporary installation Path of Visionaries in the pedestrian zone of Berlin's Friedrichstrasse on the occasion of the 1st Europafestval-Berlin 2006.

2007/2008: In order to draw attention to the plans for the path of visionaries , the sponsoring association Kunstwelt e. V. Berlin 2006, 2007 and 2008 along the southern Friedrichstrasse in cooperation with the embassies, the district, the representation of the European Commission in Germany and many independent sponsors the Europafestival-Berlin.

On June 23, 2011, the then patroness Irina Bokowa , Director General of UNESCO , personally unveiled the UNESCO plaque on site. This board will be part of the permanent installation in 2021.

In 2013 the temporary installation was discontinued and the foundations of the permanent installation for the heavy-duty transporters of the BVG construction site were secured.

From 2011 to 2019, the BVG operated a major construction site at Mehringplatz, which contributed to the massive delay in the implementation of the project. The operating association u. a. to test new prototypes for permanent installation and to expand the project to include all UN states.

In 2018 the district began the extensive redesign of Mehringplatz and the Friedrichstrasse pedestrian zone. Again, the path of visionaries had to wait for its implementation.

In 2021, the final construction project, the permanent installation of the Path of Visionaries - EU, will be inaugurated (probably April 2021).

The quotes and sayings

Belgium

... of all Gauls the Belgians are the bravest ...
( Julius Caesar )

Bulgaria

... time is within us and we are in time - while it changes us, we also change it.
( Wassil Levski )

Denmark

I am only a messenger; I've been sent on a long journey to tell people that there is hope in the world.
( Karen Tania Blixen )

Germany (since May 12, 2007)

“Always act in such a way that the maxim of your will can also apply at any time as the principle of general legislation. "
( Immanuel Kant )

Estonia

The state arises only once, but you have to fight for freedom every day.
( Lennart Meri )

Finland

The one who is not captivated by fear of loss wanders completely freely.
( Sylvi Kekkonen )

France

One sees clearly only with the heart. The essential is invisible to the eyes.
( Antoine de Saint-Exupéry )

Greece

You cannot step into the same river twice.
( Heraclitus )

United Kingdom (unfortunately no longer implemented)

If I have seen further than others, it is only because I was standing on the shoulders of giants.
( Sir Isaac Newton )

Ireland

I feel like a link in a language chain. The language of my ancestors was rich, earthbound, poetic, powerful. I don't want to think that I am the dropped link.
( Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill )

Italy

Fraternity between all the peoples of Europe and with Europe for the fraternity of all people.
( Giuseppe Mazzini )

Croatia

At the edge of the abyss we have to lengthen the path.
( Ivan Supek )

Latvia

Understand the other - understand yourself; understand yourself - understand the world.
( Jānis Pliekšāns Rainis )

Lithuania

We don't need a win. We need peace and a general understanding of peace.
( Vytautas Landsbergis )

Luxembourg

The nations people need to be close are not a passing phenomenon in history. But they must never again make history at the expense of Europe.
( Jean-Claude Juncker )

Malta

We also breathe to understand. Temporary problems are part of our era, permanent ones are part of our nature. Answers generate questions. That makes our adventure a logical mystery, a smile from God, an invitation to long for more.
( Oliver Friggieri )

Netherlands

Peace is not the absence of war. Peace is a virtue , an attitude of mind, an inclination towards goodness, trust and justice.
( Baruch de Spinoza )

Austria

The truth is reasonable for people.
( Ingeborg Bachmann )

Poland

A people who lose their memory also lose their conscience.
( Zbigniew Herbert )

Portugal

We are all short-sighted except internally. Only our trauma eyes do not need glasses.
( Fernando Pessoa )

Romania

Create like God, command like a king, work like a slave.
( Constantin Brâncuși )

Sweden

Thinking freely is great, thinking right is greater.
( Thomas Thorild )

Slovakia

The future of Europe does not consist in separatism , but in a reasonable division of labor. The mutual economic integration of the entire European continent should be a matter of course (...)
( Milan Hodža )

Slovenia

Long live all peoples who longingly wait for the day that under this sun the world will renounce the old strife! Everyone would be free, not the enemy, only neighbors from now on!
( France Prešeren )