Tribute by Balkenhol Macke sculpture unveiled in Bonn’s Hofgarten
Bonn · Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has unveiled Stephan Balkenhol’s “Homage to Macke” in Bonn’s Hofgarten.
He arrived just before eleven. Gerhard Schröder appeared with his wife, Soyeon Kim, in Bonn’s Hofgarten, where he was to unveil Stephan Balkenhol’s “Homage to Macke” on Sunday morning. The former chancellor initially stayed away from the podium, where he was later to speak of his closeness to Balkenhol and Macke. But he was not alone. Like a magical force field, Schröder attracted the interest of the large audience. Many wanted to get close to him, and many successfully asked for an autograph.
Before things officially kicked off, there was a question in the air: what would weigh more heavily, the charisma of political power or the power of artistic expression? In the end it was a pretty clear victory for Schröder. Balkenhol’s Macke will get over it. The sculpture, which in Schröder’s eyes has identified what made Macke special as a person and artist and combined it in a single symbol, is escaping the social whirl. It looks upwards to a colourful roof allowing magical plays of light.
Lord Mayor Ashok Sridharan welcomed the audience in the Hofgarten. He was pleased that the Foundation for Art and Culture had again enabled a sculpture to be placed in Bonn’s public spaces. The “Homage to August Macke” is the fourth stage of Bad Godesberg-based foundation’s “Art Project Bonn”. The project is to provide the city with a privately financed “urban museum”. The foundation began its work in 2014 with Markus Lüpertz’s sculpture “Beethoven” in the Stadtgarten, followed by Tony Cragg’s “Mean Average” on Remigiusplatz. In 2016, Bernar Venet’s monumental sculpture “Arc ‘89” was erected on the roundabout on the B9.
Schröder expressed personal views as an art lover in his speech. “August Macke loved life, people, the colours and beauty of things. A philanthropist – decent and humble – but with great charisma, full of zest for life, strength and cheerfulness,” he explained.
There was plenty of applause for the former chancellor, who was not the only inspiring speaker to talk to the audience at a high level. Telekom boss Timotheus Höttges appreciates art that pleases without being pleasing. He praised civic commitment, such as that of the foundation and its chairman Walter Smerling, and intervened productively and proactively in the debate culture (for example on swimming pools) in Bonn. It suffers from egotism and singularities. This does not create an urbane attitude to life. Höttges’ words on democratic values and obligations in troubled times, addressed above all to young people, were also thought-provoking.
Minister President Armin Laschet gave the city’s cultural offering as the reason for his conspicuous presence in Bonn - “that’s why I’m here almost daily now.” On Friday he was at the opening of the Beethoven Festival and two days later, Balkenhol. Smerling has already arranged to meet the Minister President in 2030. Then you will be able to walk along a “Walk of modern art” in Bonn, with 17 sculptural stations. The Foundation for Art and Culture has been working with private sponsors on a new image for Bonn after 1989. And with success, as was shown on Sunday.
(Original text: Dietmar Kanthak / Translation: kc)
