sie werden dorthin zurückkehren Installation

Is it a giant basket or a wooden tunnel? Right now, you might be wondering what the “sie werden dorthin zurückkehren” Installation is all about. Here at the former Bundesgartenschau grounds, you’ll find this walk-through sculpture by the artist Olaf Holzapfel. It’s more than just wood and straw. It’s a statement. The “sie werden dorthin zurückkehren” Installation was specifically created for the 2023 art exhibition “1.5 Grad” at the Kunsthalle Mannheim. This exhibition, sprawling from the museum to the Bundesgartenschau grounds, tackles the urgent issue of climate change, aiming to raise awareness through art. The title, “sie werden dorthin zurückkehren” translates to “they will return there”. While open to interpretation, it alludes to a reconnection with nature, a return to our roots after a period of disconnect. Olaf Holzapfel masterfully combines traditional craftsmanship with a contemporary message. The installation’s structure uses wattle, a method where woven willow branches form the base. This skeletal frame is then painstakingly covered in hand-sewn rye straw. Rye straw is significant. It’s a material deeply intertwined with the history of the Rhine-Neckar region and represents the cyclical relationship between humankind and nature. As you walk through the “sie werden dorthin zurückkehren” Installation, take a moment to appreciate the textures, the scents, the sheer artistry. Holzapfel’s work is a powerful reminder of the importance of sustainability and our connection to the natural world.