Surely, the Lehrflug Sculpture tells a silent story of Berlin’s past. It stands here as a testament to a city once divided. The Lehrflug Sculpture is more than just steel and concrete. It is a symbol of unity.
Berlin was one of eight sculptures designed for the city’s 750th anniversary in 1987. This event was titled “Skulpturenboulevard Kurfürstendamm”. The city commissioned these sculptures. The husband-and-wife team Brigitte Matschinsky-Denninghoff and Martin Matschinsky created the Lehrflug Sculpture.
Originally conceived in 1985, the sculpture’s unveiling took place in 1987. Its central theme is a broken chain. This broken chain symbolizes the severed connections between West and East Berlin. This division resulted from the construction of the Berlin Wall. After the Wall’s fall, the city acquired the Lehrflug Sculpture. It serves as a lasting reminder of this period in German history.
Of the eight sculptures unveiled for the anniversary, only three remained. The Lehrflug Sculpture was one of them. The city and Deutsche Bank purchased it after its lease expired.
The artists had the freedom to choose the location for their work. The Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche stands in front of the sculpture. This church was heavily damaged during World War II bombings.
The Lehrflug Sculpture features four steel tubes extending upwards. Each tube is about two meters in diameter. They are reinforced with a concrete base. The ends of each side tilt and loop. They do not touch. This symbolizes the closeness and isolation between the two sides of Berlin. Chrome nickel steel covers the tubes’ surface. This material can darken or shine. This depends on the time of day.
Brigitte Matschinsky-Denninghoff described the sculpture’s intended impact. She said it is accessible from all sides. Viewers can perceive the West-East and East-West directions. She called it a big, organically grown gate. It forms a double arch. This arch emphasizes Berlin’s situation in a symbolic way.
The Lehrflug Sculpture stands as a reminder of Berlin’s history. It symbolizes division and reunification. It shows the city’s enduring spirit. It is a gate to the past.