Perhaps the most unusual cemetery you will ever encounter awaits us. This is the Friedhof der guten Ideen. It is a resting place for brilliant thoughts in Wilhelmsburg.
The Friedhof der guten Ideen, or Cemetery of Good Ideas, offers a unique experience. It is tucked away in Wilhelmsburg’s Inselpark. This Unterwelt der Ideen hides between a high ropes course and an open-air stage. Beach volleyball fields and Sansibarfelsen surround it. Unsuspecting walkers might miss it. A simple meadow separates them from this realm of forgotten ideas. Careful dreamers can find the Friedhof der guten Ideen along a small path.
Here in a small clearing, dark tombstones reach skyward. Most are inscribed but not with names of the dead. Instead, ideas are buried here. One grave reads, “Paint the Mona Lisa from behind.” Another says, “People can tell me everything that moves them at fixed times.” “A house where people without their own children come together” is also written on a stone. Another states, “Sleep under the bridges to stay open to everything.”
The trees cradle these dead thoughts. Soft light caresses the cold stones. Who came up with this cruel idea? Who came up with this brilliant idea?
Mark Wehrmann created the Friedhof der guten Ideen. It was part of the International Garden Show in 2013. He created the cemetery with visitors of the show. Walkers told him of ideas they wished they had done. Business ideas, inventions, and dreams were among them. Wehrmann listened and asked questions. He was often touched by the stories. Many stones now bear personal stories. For example, “Run a café at home with him while it’s still possible.” Wehrmann asked one last question before inscribing. Are you ready to bury your idea completely? Are you ready to make it public?
Thought to ash. Idea to dust. The Friedhof der guten Ideen remains a poetic place for Hamburgers. It is art in public space. It has lost none of its fascination even years later. Strolling through the rows of graves, one can hear people discussing ideas. Suddenly, it seems as if death and inspiration are debating. Did someone already do that idea? Why did it have to bite the dust?
Suddenly there is more at stake. Questions about creativity fill the air. Why don’t people implement some ideas? What makes them fail? The thoughts turn personal. When was your last inspiration? How many ideas have you cremated yourself? Everyone has had a world-conquering idea. Tick-tock. Time ran out. Inspiration gone. Idea dead. Or ten thousand other reasons such as laziness, lack of money and time. The Friedhof der guten Ideen is haunted by the ghosts of three cursed words. Would have. Would. Could. Letting go of ideas and making room for new ones feels good.
Maybe some thoughts never truly die. Perhaps one day idea zombies will crawl from their graves. They might even take over the world or a TED conference. Hopefully, some grave robbers will plunder the rotting treasures. Best of all, a Dr. Frankenstein could stitch a monstrous new idea from remains.
Want to be an idea grave robber? From Wilhelmsburg S-Bahn station and the Neuenfelder Straße park entrance, it is ten minutes to Hades of brilliant ideas. Turn left at the Wälderhaus. Stroll past the basketball court and beach volleyball courts. Pass the skate park and Aqua Soccer.
Watch for the Hanserock high ropes course on the right. The secret cemetery hides on a small clearing to the left. You can spot the dark tombstones from the roadside. Follow the small path and get struck by the inspirations. Some graves are still blank. What would you write?
Think tank. Rest in peace.