“A topic of conversation in Germany.” That’s what the artist Oliver Voss wanted to create. The Kneeling Statue is not just a sculpture. It’s an experience.
Here we are, face to face with a thought-provoking piece of art. The Kneeling Statue, or “Die Badende” as the Germans call it, once graced Hamburg’s Inner Alster Lake.
Imagine a giant woman bathing comfortably. Only her head and knees are visible above the water. That was the Kneeling Statue. Oliver Voss, the artist and former advertising agency chairman, created this unusual sight. He wanted to give something back to the city.
The Kneeling Statue was hard to miss. It stood 13 feet high and stretched 98 feet long. The statue weighed over 2 tons. It was made of styrofoam and steel. Sandbags and buoys kept it stable.
The Kneeling Statue wasn’t meant to provoke. Voss wanted to encourage people to experience the Binnenalster in a new way. He also wanted to promote Hamburg as a creative center.
But not everyone loved the Kneeling Statue. District mayor Markus Schreiber felt it was sullying the beloved lake. Others called it a superfluous spectacle. Some thought it carried an environmental message. One spectator commented that, like that blonde, we should one day be able to swim in the Binnenalster again.
Many people rented paddleboats just to get a closer look. The Kneeling Statue became a temporary landmark. It sparked conversations and stirred emotions.
Originally, the final installation of the Kneeling Statue faced technical problems. There were fears that it would sink. Eventually the Kneeling Statue was installed. It remained for only ten days. A crane hoisted it out of the water on August 12.
The Kneeling Statue was an advertisement. It promoted the art of bathing. The British beauty products company Soap & Glory sponsored it.
Whether you loved it or hated it, the Kneeling Statue left its mark. It made people think and talk. It transformed the lake into the world’s biggest bathtub for a short time. It encouraged everyone to see Hamburg in a new light. A giant towel was at the ready to dry the statue off. After her 10-day soak, she’d be a bit pruny.
The Kneeling Statue may be gone now. But it reminds us that art can be found in unexpected places. It can challenge our perceptions. It can make waves, both literally and figuratively.