“Beschleunigung und Bewegung”. That’s what the Ätherwelle von Friedrich Wield is all about. The sculpture embodies the discoveries of Hamburg’s own Heinrich Hertz. Many know Hertz as the namesake of the unit describing frequency. But fewer know the struggles behind this very monument.
The Ätherwelle wasn’t always here. Its journey reflects a turbulent past. Friedrich Wield created the sculpture in 1931. The Hamburg Senate commissioned it as a tribute to Heinrich Hertz. Hertz was the first to prove electromagnetic waves.
But dark times loomed. The Nazi regime seized power. They deemed Hertz a Jew despite his Lutheran upbringing. The Nazis forbade the statue’s unveiling in 1933. They even removed a relief of Hertz from Hamburg City Hall. They even wanted to rename the physical unit Hertz.
The Ätherwelle remained hidden for decades. Wield faced increasing hardship. He struggled financially. Artistic opportunities vanished. Tragically, Wield took his own life in 1940.
The sculpture depicts more than just a portrait. It embodies Hertz’s discoveries. The male figure stretches forward with reaching arms. The female figure curls inward. Together they represent the flow and emergence of electromagnetic waves. Though made of bronze the figures pull apart.
Finally, in 1994 the Ätherwelle was erected. It stood in the Eichenpark overlooking the Krugkoppelbrücke. In 2016 it was moved to its current location here. Now it stands proudly before the NDR broadcasting center on Rothenbaumchaussee.
This is not just a monument to Hertz. It also honors Wield. He never received payment for his work. He was systematically hindered by the Nazis. The Ätherwelle embodies the power of discovery. It also stands as a testament to resilience.
Take a closer look. Notice the interplay of tension and release. The Ätherwelle is more than bronze. It is a symbol of Hamburg’s complex history. It’s a tribute to scientific achievement and artistic perseverance. It’s a reminder of the struggles against oppression. The Ätherwelle connects us to both past and future. It shows us the flow of progress.