Der Baum Sculpture

Gazing up at Der Baum, have you ever considered how a sculpture could resemble a tree yet not be a tree? Here in Langenhorn, at Holitzberg 133, stands Hans Kock’s granite creation, Der Baum. Erected in 1965, it isn’t a realistic depiction of a tree. Instead, Kock constructed it from individual granite elements, arranged according to his artistic vision. Der Baum seems to have grown and unfolded, mimicking the natural growth of a tree. The sculpture, like many of Kock’s works, sprang from his imagination. He combined small elements into a larger, harmonious form. The horizontal emphasis of Der Baum evokes the image of a human figure with outstretched arms. It stands as a guardian over the residential area. Kock, born in Kiel in 1920, studied architecture before turning to sculpture after World War II. He became a master student and later an assistant to Gerhard Marcks at the Landeskunstschule in Hamburg. From 1953 onwards, he worked as a freelance artist in Hamburg and at Gut Seekamp in Kiel. Kock’s impressive career included winning the Villa Romana Prize in 1962 and participating in prestigious events like documenta III in Kassel (1964) and the world exhibitions in Montreal (1967) and Osaka (1970). He also received several awards, including the Förderpreis der Lichtwark-Gesellschaft (1955), the Edwin-Scharff-Preis (1969), and the Kunstpreis des Landes Schleswig-Holstein (1972). With his wife, he transformed Gut Seekamp into a sculpture park and art space from 1990. He also received the Kulturpreis der Landeshauptstadt Kiel in 2004. Der Baum stands as a testament to his artistic vision and skill. It reminds us of the power of art to transform simple materials into evocative forms.