From a grand vision of a department store fountain to a quiet spot in Wuhlheide Park, the Bär auf einer Kugel balancierend sculpture has had quite a journey. Here, in Berlin, we find this bronze bear, its four paws gripping a sphere etched with swirling lines. The bear’s muscles are tense, its features finely detailed, a snapshot of concentrated balance. The Bär auf einer Kugel balancierend was originally part of a larger fountain designed for the Wertheim department store at Leipziger Platz in 1904. Sculptor August Gaul envisioned a multi-tiered creation. The balancing bear perched atop a column, overlooking a basin. Two younger bears sat playfully on the basin’s edge. Ornate stonework and a dedicated niche within the grand hall completed the scene. It was Gaul’s first fountain design, unique for its indoor placement, unlike his later works destined for parks and gardens. Sadly, World War II brought devastation to the department store and its fountain. The bronze sculptures, thankfully, were salvaged from the rubble. The Bär auf einer Kugel balancierend found a new home here. The two younger bears now reside in the Hanau museums. Their journey there remains shrouded in mystery, a puzzle piece in the bear’s history. Even the Bär auf einer Kugel balancierend’s current location carries a question mark. While believed to be the original, there’s no absolute confirmation. What remains undeniable is that the sculpture stands alone, separated from its intended context. The original fountain, the playful cubs, the bustling department store. They are all gone, leaving this powerful bear to balance its own history on a sphere of time.
Genossenschaft PA58
From 1981 the Genossenschaft PA58 stands tall. It’s a self-managed house project. This is its story. This impressive building in