Imagine a giant’s toy. This toy is a man climbing to the sky. That is the Man walking to the sky sculpture. It stands tall near the Kulturbahnhof Kassel. Locals call it Himmelsstürmer.
Jonathan Borofsky designed the Man walking to the sky for documenta IX in 1992. The sculpture cost 70,000 D-Mark to make. The city of Kassel bought it after the exhibition for 690,000 D-Mark. People of Kassel liked it very much. It symbolized positive development for their city.
The Man walking to the sky consists of a 25-meter steel tube. It has a 63-degree angle. A painted fiberglass figure is attached near the top. This figure is a man walking upwards. He wears a purple shirt and yellow trousers.
The Man walking to the sky once stood on Friedrichsplatz. Later, it was moved to Platz der Deutschen Einheit. Finally, it was placed in front of the Kulturbahnhof.
Borofsky wished the Himmelsstürmer could be in a park on a hill. He understood the city’s desire to place it where many people could see it. The artist’s childhood inspired him. Stories of a friendly giant in the sky influenced his work. The giant did good things for people. This reflects in the sculpture.
The upward movement represents an escape. It is getting away from the bad things on Earth. The Himmelsstürmer has been well received. Not all art at Documenta events receives such praise.
A similar sculpture exists in Strasbourg. It is called Woman walking to the sky. The Man walking to the sky is a symbol of Kassel. It represents progress and hope. Its image appears on city advertisements and souvenirs. The Man walking to the sky sculpture is more than just art. It is a symbol of Kassel’s aspirations. It embodies the spirit of reaching for something higher.