Tag: Sculpture

Storm sculpture in Bremerhaven

The New Harbour in Bremerhaven is protected by a dike. Behind the dike lie the German Maritime Museum, the Klimahaus and further behind the city’s center. Right behind the dike stands a sculpture to commemorate the danger of storm surges. Copper rings on the pole of the sculpture show the maximum water levels of past storm surges (1717, 1825, 1906, 1936, 1962, 1973). On the top is a copper model of the Bremen Hanseatic Cog over a globe that can be rotated in the wind. The model was created by the Bremerhaven sculptor Gerhard Olbrich in 1975 and can be seen from both sides of the dike.

Looking back through a treehouse window

Japanese artist Michiari Saito builds treehouses with the citizens of Kesenuma, one of the towns that were severly affected by the 2011 tsunami that caused the Fukushima disaster as well. A protective barrier now separates the twon from the sea. The view out of these treehouses allows different perspectives on the twon and the landscape, for example seeing the waterfront without the massive wall. The treehouses thus are a sort of time machine as well as an effort in community healing. (The video is japanese with German subtitles only)

Thanks to Hannah Janz for the suggestion!

Japan; 21. Century; Installation / Community Art; City: Kesenuma

The floating Church

This swimming building in an artificial lake in Saxonia, combines the commemoration of two sunken citites: The shape of the dome resembles the church of Magdeborn, a former town that was evicted in the 1970s and the area was later flooded by the lake. The name however refers to the mythical sunken city Vineta, located in the Baltic sea in or closeby the Szczecin Lagoon. The building is also used as an “event center”.

Morana (Morena)

This is an idol of the Slav goddess Morana. In the folktale as penned by Stepan Gedeonow, the godess takes revenge on the people of Rethra by flooding the tempel and city. The reason for the demise and the geographical position of Rethra are not scientifically verified.

Poland; probably 20. Century; Pagan; Sculpture; City: Rethra

The New Ark

Since 2017 there is a “life size” Ark in Kentucky, USA: https://arkencounter.com/

USA; 21. Century; Christian; Sculpture, Theme Park