Is he welcoming us or merely keeping his balance? That is the question the “Mann mit ausgebreiteten Armen” or “Man with outstretched arms” statue seems to pose.
The Mann mit ausgebreiteten Armen Sculpture stands high above the shoppers at the entrance to the Kaufinger Tor Passage. It has been there since 1997.
This artwork is by Stephan Balkenhol. He is a German sculptor and professor in Karlsruhe. Balkenhol’s works often feature people. They are often neutral and observant. The Mann mit ausgebreiteten Armen Sculpture fits this description perfectly.
The statue is of an average man. He wears a white shirt and black trousers. He watches the busy shopping street with alert eyes. The Mann mit ausgebreiteten Armen Sculpture stands timeless and enigmatic. Is the Mann mit ausgebreiteten Armen Sculpture greeting people warmly? Or is he simply balancing on the beam? The answer is up to you.
The statue is made of wood. Wind and rain can damage it over time. About every three to four years, the Mann mit ausgebreiteten Armen Sculpture is restored. For example, it disappeared for a few months starting in October last year. It was returned in March or April in new splendor.
Balkenhol often works with soft wood like poplar, Douglas fir, or Wawa. Sometimes, he uses clay and later casts the sculpture in bronze. He always creates his sculptures from a single piece. He uses a chainsaw or mallet and chisel. Balkenhol often sketches his ideas quickly by hand. His figures are often large or small. They might stand on golden balls, climb on animals, or float on buoys. You can find his work in many places like Hamburg, London, Berlin, and Paris. They appear in exhibitions, galleries, and public spaces.
The “Mann mit ausgebreiteten Armen” is one of Stephan Balkenhol’s trademarks. You can find similar figures in other cities. Some are combined with animals like giraffes or deer. The Munich Mann mit ausgebreiteten Armen Sculpture stands on a red beam. His arms are outstretched. He does not seem like a tightrope walker.
These everyday people leave room for speculation. It is not clear if the figure welcomes passersby. The Mann mit ausgebreiteten Armen Sculpture sometimes confuses people. The Kaufinger Tor was once one of five city towers. The wealthy Kaufinger family lived there. The tower was named after them.
Next time you are in Munich, look up at the Mann mit ausgebreiteten Armen Sculpture. Consider what he represents to you. Is he a welcoming figure or something more mysterious?