Is it possible for art to heal a city’s wounds? The Erinnerungsmal Sculpture stands as part of Nuremberg’s transformation. It seeks to shed its past as the “City of the Party Rallies”. Nuremberg now strives to be a “City of Peace and Human Rights”.
Opened on October 24, 1993, the Way of Human Rights, where the Erinnerungsmal Sculpture is located, connects Kornmarkt street and the medieval city wall. The street lies between the new and old buildings of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum.
Let’s step back to 1988. A jury from the Germanisches Nationalmuseum organized a design competition. The goal was to artistically reshape Kartäusergasse street. Dani Karavan, an Israeli artist, won. His proposal included a gate and 27 white concrete pillars. Two more pillars are buried. Only their round plates are visible. A columnar oak completes the set for a total of 30 pillars.
Each pillar bears an engraving. It features one article from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The text appears in German and another language. These pillars stand tall. Each measures eight meters high and eighty centimeters in diameter. They are spaced five meters apart. The north gate mirrors the medieval city gate. It stands at the south end of the street.
This location carries layers of history. Remnants of a monastery are here. The medieval city wall is another layer. Buildings designed by Sep Ruf in the 1950s and 1960s add to it. A glass-enclosed entrance designed by ME DI UM in 1993 completes the picture.
The Erinnerungsmal Sculpture is a vital part of Nuremberg’s effort. It is a repudiation of past crimes. It serves as a reminder that human rights are still violated. Nuremberg received the UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education in 2001. The Way of Human Rights earned specific recognition. Every two years, the Nuremberg International Human Rights Award ceremony takes place here.