Did the Tauziehen Installation always look so strained? This artwork, also known as Gezerre auf dem Neumarkt or simply Gezerre, depicts a tug-of-war. It’s made of cast iron, frozen mid-struggle. The Tauziehen Installation arrived here on May 8, 2020. It was created by Olaf Stoy. This isn’t just about a game. It speaks to the tensions within Dresden, the push and pull of its history. Dresden, once the residence of Saxon royalty, flourished as a cultural and economic hub. This “Jewel Box,” filled with baroque and rococo architecture, drew artists and musicians from across Europe. Augustus II the Strong, elector and king, shaped much of Dresden’s 18th-century landscape. His influence is visible in landmarks like the Zwinger and the Frauenkirche. Yet, Dresden’s story isn’t just one of splendor. The city has faced destruction and division. The bombing raids of 1945 left the city in ruins, a stark contrast to its former glory. Later, as part of East Germany, Dresden bore the marks of socialist architectural styles. The Tauziehen Installation embodies this duality. The figures, locked in their eternal struggle, reflect the city’s own battles. They represent the tensions between past and present, destruction and rebuilding, tradition and change. As you look at this artwork, consider the forces that have shaped Dresden. Remember the resilience of its people, who, like the figures in the Tauziehen Installation, continue to pull, to strive, to shape their city’s future.
Kutschgeteich Moritzburg
How many hidden havens do you think lie tucked away in Saxony? Right here before us lies one such secret: