“Politics,” the very name of this artwork before you, the Gestern Heute Morgen – Politik Stele, hints at its profound message. This stele stands here as part of a larger decentralized art project. It is meant to spark reflection on the Rostock-Lichtenhagen pogrom of 1992.
The Gestern Heute Morgen project emerged from a 2016 art competition. The city of Rostock sought a way to remember and learn from those events. The artist collective SCHAUM won with their design. In 2017, on the 25th anniversary of the pogrom, the winning design Gestern Heute Morgen was realized at five locations.
The Gestern Heute Morgen – Politik Stele is located in front of the Rathaus. The Rathaus is Rostock’s town hall. The Gestern Heute Morgen – Politik Stele is more than just a monument. It is a stark reminder of a dark chapter in Rostock’s history.
Notice the stele’s cubic white form. It is a deliberate choice by SCHAUM, the artist collective. The cube evokes an empty pedestal. This suggests that the artwork’s meaning depends on the public’s engagement. The Gestern Heute Morgen – Politik Stele encourages viewers to confront uncomfortable truths.
Observe the Gesichtsform, the face-shaped indentation at the top. From the eyes, boreholes run through the stone. These boreholes emerge as fluting on the sides, reaching a nearby sewer cover. This design invites mourning. It asks for humility before the victims. It questions the sincerity of public gestures.
The Gestern Heute Morgen – Politik Stele challenges us to consider political responsibility. The location of the stele is significant. Its location in front of the Rathaus, a political institution, is important. The Gestern Heute Morgen – Politik Stele reminds us that the events of 1992 led to stricter asylum laws.
SCHAUM doesn’t offer simple answers. Instead, the collective prompts us to examine our own actions. How would we have acted then? How do we act now? How will we address such issues in the future? The artists appeal to our empathy. They highlight democracy’s pillars. A society thrives only when all democratic forces are active.
The Gestern Heute Morgen project includes six distinct sculptures. Each addresses a different aspect of the events and their aftermath. Another sculpture titled “Self-Justice” stands near the “Sonnenblumenhaus.” That building was the site of the pogrom. “State Power” is located in front of the police headquarters. “Media” stands before the Ostsee-Zeitung newspaper. “Society” is near the former site of the Jugend Alternativ Zentrums. In 2018, a sixth sculpture called “Empathy” was added.
Consider this stele, Gestern Heute Morgen – Politik, as an invitation. Engage with its symbolism. Reflect on its message. Remember the past. Consider the present. Shape a more just future. This is the essence of Gestern Heute Morgen.