Perhaps you’ve pondered the final fate of literary characters after their stories end. Welcome to the Friedhof für literarische Gestalten. This unique cemetery offers a resting place for those fictional souls.
Uwe Schloen created this art installation in 2013 and 2014. It is located in the garden of the KunstHaus am Schüberg in Ammersbek. The Friedhof für literarische Gestalten appears like an old weathered graveyard. But look closer. The gravestones have unusual shapes. These shapes hint at the stories behind them.
Many famous novels feature main characters that die. Yet their burials are rarely described. What happened to Gregor Samsa after his transformation? Where was Effi Briest laid to rest? What became of young Werther? The Friedhof für literarische Gestalten answers these questions.
The individually designed graves offer subtle clues. They reveal which character lies beneath. The basic forms are made of wood. Each is covered entirely in lead. Schloen often uses lead in his work. It represents both protection and danger.
Schloen was born in 1958 in Kuhstedt Lower Saxony. He studied sculpture and painting in Hamburg. Since 1987 he has worked as a freelance artist. His work often explores the crossing of borders.
Here at the Friedhof für literarische Gestalten you will find Andry Jefimytsch from Tschechow’s Krankenzimmer Nr. 6. Martine Donadieu and Philip Dargens from G. Simenon’s Das Testament Donadieu are here. Oskar Donadieu from G. Simenon’s Der Bananentourist also rests here. Mr. Singer from Carson McCullers is another resident. You can also find Jakob from Uwe Johnson’s Mutmassungen über Jakob. A. Kovrin from Tschechow is here too. Effi Briest from Fontane lies in peace. Gregor Samsa from Kafka’s Die Verwandlung is remembered here. Anna Karenina from Tolstoi is not forgotten. Madame Bovary from Flaubert is also a resident. And of course Werther from J.W. Goethe is present. Amalia from Italo Svevo is another addition. Felix Allard from G. Simenon’s Der Mann mit dem kleinen Hund is also buried here. Joakim from Bragi’s Die Geschichte vom Dienstag has a place.
Schloen says that some literary figures are closer to us than real people. He uses irony to explore our projections and ideas about literature. He grapples with death. Death is too big to grasp. Humor helps us cope.
The gravestones are made with a chainsaw. The grave slabs are assembled. Uwe Schloen originally planned for 12 to 15 grave slabs and around 20 gravestones. Books related to the characters are available in a special library. The Friedhof für literarische Gestalten is a reminder that stories and characters live on in our imaginations.