Monument of the German Reunification
Artistic concept
Statement and intended effect
Two long arched bowl-like forms stand diagonally opposite each other and spatially, their fixture circumscribes the form of an ellipse. The ellipse as a geometric form with one center but two focal points:
A unity with two centers.
The whole composition represents a movement towards unity, towards “completeness”.
The form of the individual arched bowls widen towards the top. This represents a movement towards a freer state: the citizens strive towards freedom, and in a broader sense, the people rise up against dictatorship.
A moment and yet also a process is shown. It is up to the viewer whether they see two separate elements corresponding with one another, or one entire composition made up of two parts;
the reunification continues to find itself in a perpetual process.
The bronze sculpture stands in a semi-circle shaped basin set in granite. Water flows from the inner surface of the basin, which subtly inclines from the center of the square towards the first
stair level.
Colour scheme of the sculpture and water basin
The golden color of the 11 metre high bronze sculpture creates a strong visual accent in front of the 30 meter facade of the castle.
From an urban planning perspective, this color also integrates well with the historic townscape. In addition, the color gold intends to emphasize the spiritual dimension of the peaceful revolution of 1989: In art history the color gold is considered as a symbol of light and divinity.
It also shows the great value in freedom of mind in our contemporary society. The sculpture shall set a new accent in the monument landscape of Berlin, for an event for which we Germans can be deeply grateful and proud of.
Placement, Dimensions and Material
The sculpture shall stand in the middle of the square, in the place of the former Kaiser Wilhelm monument, at the axis of the main entrance to the Humboldforum. It shall be 11 meters high, and from the exterior point of one wing to the end of the other, 25 meters long. Already from a distance, the monument shall be in view from different directions.