Große Vegetative Landschaft Sculpture

From a large bronze plate, geometric and cubic shapes burst forth. This, my friends, is the Große Vegetative Landschaft. It’s more than just metal and form. It embodies the spirit of Bürgerpark Pankow. The sculpture was created by Friedrich B. Henkel between 1990 and 1991. It was commissioned by the city of Berlin before the fall of the Berlin Wall. Its installation, however, was delayed until 1996. Notice the sphere-like and pyramid-shaped figures. And what about that wheel-like structure? Some believe it represents a mill wheel, a nod to the park’s history as a mill site. Henkel envisioned the Große Vegetative Landschaft as an artistic recreation of Bürgerpark Pankow. The sculpture rests on a clinker pedestal, adding to its unique character. Bürgerpark Pankow, along with the palace gardens of Niederschönhausen and Buch, and Brosepark, stands as one of Pankow’s green landmarks. Established in 1854 on a former mill site, the park’s current path system largely dates back to a redesign between 1965 and 1968. Since the 1950s, numerous artworks have graced the park, providing a vivid overview of GDR sculptural art. Henkel’s Große Vegetative Landschaft contributes to this artistic landscape. Look closely at the sculpture. You’ll find a cast inscription “H E.” on the lower left and a stamp from the “WERKSTATT FÜR KUNSTGUSS / MARC / KREPP / BERLIN” on the left plinth. The Große Vegetative Landschaft stands as a testament to the park’s history and artistic heritage. It invites you to contemplate the interplay between nature, industry, and art.