“What does it all mean?” someone might ask when first viewing this sculpture. The Quint Sculpture by Ewerdt Hilgemann is a sight to behold.
Let’s talk about art in Hamburg. Since 1993, Hamburg’s waterscapes have been defined by wooden figures. These figures were carved by artist Stephan Balkenhol. The oak sculptures are mounted on shallow water barrels at four different locations in the Hanseatic city. These average looking fellows wear black trousers and white shirts. They inevitably attract the attention of passers-by.
Every autumn, after about seven months on the water, the buoy-men start to look a bit pale. The artist takes them back to their winter quarters. This happens at the Stackmeisterei on the Finkenwerder river island for a little upkeep.
The Vier Männer auf Bojen translates to four men on buoys. They were each carved from an oak trunk. The figure and the base are a single piece of wood. Each sculpture including the base is 2.40 meters high. They weigh nine tons. They are mounted on wobbly buoys. These are chained to stone anchors beneath the waves. This leaves them bobbing atop the water. They seem unconcerned with the goings-on around them.
Their expressions are stoically calm, if you can get close enough to see them. Their total lack of pose and gesture gives the statues a serene peculiarity. This somewhat blank appearance was deliberate on the artist’s part. Balkenhol intended for the figures to be contradictory. They bob uncontrollably on the one hand. They appear completely unconcerned on the other. Thus, the figures remain deliberately distant, anonymous, and enigmatic.
Balkonhol himself said his sculptures do not tell stories. There is something secretive hidden in them. It is not his job to reveal it. It is the viewer’s to discover it. You can see the four buoy-men at aquatic locations throughout the city from March to October. You can find them in the Elbe near Övelgönne in Altona. Another is in the Serrahn in Bergedorf. Another is in the Outer Alster Lake. The last one is in the south Elbe near Harburg.
Additionally, many others of Balkenhol’s statues can be seen year-round throughout Hamburg. They can be found in front of Hamburg’s large public library in the city center. Others are in front of the Hagenbeck Zoo.
Another artist to note is Puint Buchholz. He was born in Stolberg near Aachen. He grew up in Stuttgart. He studied history of art for four terms. He studied painting and graphic design at the Munich Academy of Art under Prof. Gerd Winner. He has worked as a painter and illustrator since 1979. He has illustrated over forty books for German and international publishers. From 1982 onwards his works have also been exhibited. There have been over seventy solo exhibitions in Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, and Taiwan.
Quint Buchholz is well-liked by children and parents. This is thanks to the magic of his illustrations. His books have received numerous awards. These include the Bologna Ragazzi Award in 1998.
As you continue your exploration of Hamburg, remember that art is all around. It is up to you to discover its hidden meanings.