“Erektion,” a name that perhaps raises an eyebrow. Volkmar Haase created this sculpture. It stands here in Berlin-Tegel. The Erektion sculpture is more than just an object. It has a history.
Haase first conceived the idea in 1967. He was in Berlin-Kladow. The initial model was a small sculpture. It was only 55 cm high. Today, it is in private hands.
In 1968, Haase was in Brissago in Tessin. He was there on a private grant. There, he created the sculpture “Erektion”. It stood 3.20 meters tall. For an exhibition in Zurich in 1969, it was called “Steile Form.” It stood on the Brissago waterfront.
In 1972, Haase revisited the theme in Berlin. He created a slightly larger version. This one regained the name “Erektion”.
Look closely at the Erektion sculpture’s form. It features various triangular shapes. These shapes combine to create an stainless steel sculpture. One element points skyward. It looks like an arrow. Two smaller elements flank it. They are oriented sideways. The surfaces feature radiating lines. The sculpture rests on a flat concrete base.
The Erektion sculpture once stood in Bonn. This was in the garden of the Federal President’s Office. That was in 1973.
Later, Walter Koch acquired the sculpture. He was an industrialist from Berlin. Koch had the Erektion sculpture installed here. It is above the Greenwichpromenade. It is in Berlin-Tegel. The sculpture stands before an apartment building. It is called “Nixe”. Koch also commissioned the “Neptun” building. Heinz Schudnagies designed them in 1965-1967.
The “Nixe” and “Neptun” buildings now have landmark status. They stand as a group of residential high-rises. Smaller versions of the Erektion sculpture were also made. They were sold as art pieces.
Observe the signature. You can find it at the bottom of the sculpture. It reads “-EREKTiON-HAASE 72-“.
The Erektion sculpture embodies artistic vision. It went from a small model to a prominent display. Its journey spans cities. It even spent time in the garden of a president. Here, the Erektion sculpture remains. It provokes thought. It intrigues passersby. It continues to stand tall.