Nemesis. Ever heard of her? This sculpture embodies her spirit. It’s called Auge der Nemesis. That means Eye of Nemesis. We’re standing on Kurfürstendamm. Right here is a sculpture by Bernhard Heiliger. He created it in 1979 and 1980.
But who is Nemesis? Nemesis is a Greek goddess. She represents balance and retribution. She ensures people get what they deserve. The Auge der Nemesis sculpture stands as a reminder of justice.
Bernhard Heiliger created the Auge der Nemesis. He made it in connection with the Schaubühne theater. Erich Mendelsohn built the theater complex from 1926 to 1928. Heiliger’s sculpture responds to the theater’s curved shape. The Auge der Nemesis features a large vertical disk. It touches the ground at only one point.
The Auge der Nemesis sculpture is made of steel. It measures 4 x 4 x 2 meters. That’s quite impressive. You can see its rusted iron surface. It stands on the median strip of Kurfürstendamm. It is opposite the Schaubühne theater.
Look closely. The sculpture is like an eye. There’s a rusty iron disk. It has incisions. There are also parts on both sides. On the west side, there’s another disk. It’s smaller. About 1.5 meters in diameter. It acts as the pupil of the eye. To the east, you’ll see a sphere. It’s about 1 meter in diameter.
The location is interesting. The border between Charlottenburg and Wilmersdorf runs through Kurfürstendamm. So, the Auge der Nemesis stands in both districts.
Bernhard Heiliger completed the work in 1981. The sculpture connects to Operation Nemesis. This was an Armenian operation. It sought revenge for the Armenian Genocide. The operation targeted Ottoman officials. They were responsible for the genocide. The operation is named after the goddess Nemesis.
Consider the context. The early 20th century was a turbulent time. World War I led to the collapse of empires. It also led to terrible atrocities. Operation Nemesis aimed to bring justice. It avenged the deaths of Armenians. Soghomon Tehlirian assassinated Talât Pasha in Berlin in 1921.
The sculpture serves as a visual metaphor. It represents the idea of justice. It embodies the concept of Nemesis. It stands as a reminder of past wrongs. It promotes reflection on justice.