Behold, a horse of steel and thought stands before you. This is the S-Printing Horse. It is not just a sculpture. It is a symbol of Heidelberg’s printing legacy.
The S-Printing Horse is one of the largest horse sculptures worldwide. It measures 13 meters high and 15 meters long. Its width spans 4 meters. The sculpture weighs a staggering 90 tons. Juergen Goertz designed this stainless steel and aluminum marvel.
From 1998 to 2000, Goertz brought his vision to life. In February 2000, the pieces arrived here. Over several weeks, workers assembled the S-Printing Horse. It was placed on the forecourt of the Print Media Academy. This was once the office of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG.
But why “S-Printing Horse?” The name reflects its dual nature. It embodies both printing and sprinting. The sculpture shows the printing processes. Look closely at the stainless steel elements. They represent parts of a printing press. The holes in the neck mirror those in a printing press’s sidewalls. These hold the printing cylinders’ bearings. The flanks have rotating elements. They show the rotation of the printing process.
Notice the tail. It completes the process. It is an abstract book. At night, this book glows. Cyan, magenta, and yellow lights alternate. A stylized face gazes upon the book. This symbolizes the book serving its purpose.
The S-Printing Horse symbolizes thinking and printing. It evokes Pegasus. Pegasus is the winged horse of Greek mythology. Poets were said to ride Pegasus. The winged horse represents poetic imagination. A poet needs inspiration. They also need the means to share their work. Gutenberg’s printing press made this possible.
Attentive observers might notice something else. The S-Printing Horse has only three legs. These represent the three main steps of the printing process. The sculpture has wings. These symbolize speed. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG aimed to build fast machines.
Take a closer look at the ground. See those hoofprints? You can find similar prints in Amstetten and Ludwigsburg. These locations connect to Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG. The prints include fossils. They reference the Swabian Alb fossil sites. The S-Printing Horse itself appears as a “fossil” in these prints.
So, the next time you pass by, remember the S-Printing Horse. It is more than just a sculpture. It is a testament to Heidelberg’s printing history. It links art, technology, and imagination.