Behold the Stehender Sitzende Liegende. This bronze sculpture group isn’t just art. It’s a story etched in metal. Created by Sylvia Hagen in 1989 it stands in Berlin-Marzahn’s Mehrower Allee.
Notice the figures. A man stands tall. A woman sits pensive. Another lies recumbent. Their forms are fluid. They aren’t rigid. The artist’s skill is evident in the way she captures movement. Even stillness feels alive.
Originally part of a larger group. The Stehender Sitzende Liegende was once accompanied by a guitarist. Imagine a scene of vibrant life. The guitarist played. The figures listened. They formed a trio. A singbewegung. A movement of song. Sadly the guitarist is gone now. Removed and placed in storage. The Stehender Sitzende Liegende remains. A powerful reminder of a lost companion.
The sculpture sits on rectangular concrete bases. One base for each figure. These bases are integrated. They form a cohesive whole. They ground the figures. They anchor them to the earth.
The material is bronze. It’s patinated. Its color shifts subtly. It changes with the light. The surface is textured. Not smooth. It has an almost organic feel. This adds to the figures’ emotional depth. Their stories are not just about their posture. They are also about the way the bronze captures light and shadow. They speak to the passage of time. The wear and tear. The weathering of the elements.
The Stehender Sitzende Liegende is more than a collection of figures. It is a powerful statement on human relationships. On life’s ephemeral nature. On the quiet intimacy of shared moments. It compels you to reflect. To consider what remains when some parts are lost. This is what makes it a unique and captivating piece of art. A powerful silent story unfolding in Berlin.