Lost to time, the Reifenspieler Sculpture once stood as a testament to art in public spaces. This is its story.
The Reifenspieler Sculpture, created in 1962 by the German sculptor Henrik Böhlig, was a part of Hamburg’s “Kunst am Bau” program. This program aimed to integrate art into architecture. The city of Hamburg acquired the work. The Reifenspieler stood tall near the Lurup Center shopping center in Hamburg-Lurup.
Imagine a bronze figure. The Reifenspieler Sculpture depicted a man standing with arms raised. He held a tire above his head. Over time, the tire vanished. Some say it was stolen. Others believe vandalism was to blame. Despite the missing tire, the sculpture remained a local landmark for many years.
Tragedy struck in April 2019. The entire Reifenspieler Sculpture was stolen from its base. The police suspected that the statue was melted down for its bronze. The Reifenspieler Sculpture was never recovered.
Henrik Böhlig, the artist behind the Reifenspieler, was born in 1908 and died in 1966. The Reifenspieler Sculpture was created in 1962. Böhlig’s work was a reflection of the artistic spirit.
Today, only the base of the Reifenspieler Sculpture remains. It is a silent reminder of the artwork that once stood there. The Reifenspieler may be gone, but its story lives on. The Reifenspieler Sculpture serves as a reminder of art’s vulnerability and the importance of preserving cultural treasures.