A whirlwind of motion frozen in time. That’s the Radschläger – Blau Sculpture. Here on the campus of Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences, this large, blue sculpture captures the spirit of the Radschläger, the cartwheeling street performer. The Radschläger – Blau is a tribute to a Düsseldorf tradition. Children cartwheeling for tips from tourists. The Radschläger – Blau is based on a design by Friedrich Becker. He created the iconic stylized cartwheeler. You can see it all over Düsseldorf. Becker first used this design for the Lord Mayor’s chain of office in 1958. Then, in 1960, a Radschläger became the door handle for St. Lambertus Church. Around 1995, Becker created a Radschläger sculpture for the Schadow Arcades. The Radschläger – Blau Sculpture here echoes that design. This sculpture was installed in 2022 to commemorate Becker’s 100th birthday. It is the largest Radschläger sculpture in Düsseldorf. The Radschläger symbolizes the city’s joyful spirit and its citizens’ close ties to their home. It’s a testament to a tradition that started in the late 19th century. Children cartwheeling for pennies. Now, the Radschläger is an emblem of Düsseldorf, reproduced in countless forms. The Radschläger – Blau Sculpture stands as a powerful symbol of this enduring tradition. A reminder of a simple act of acrobatics that became a symbol of a city.
Landesrat Dr. M. Brandts Plaque
“Seinem verehrten Mitbegründer dem tatkräftigen Mitbegründer Herr Landesrat Dr. M. Brandts gest. 16. Oktober 1905 in Dankbarkeit gewidmet.” This is