Here stands the Transformation eines Würfels. What appears to be an abstract form actually began as a simple cube. This sculpture stands in the City Nord district. It’s located at Überseering 40. It stands at the entrance to Wintershall Dea. Manfred Sihle-Wissel created this bronze artwork in 1976.
Let’s explore its unique design. The Transformation eines Würfels rests on a cubic stone base. From a square base, geometric shapes rise. These shapes become increasingly detailed as they ascend. Clean cuts transform the cube into a lively form.
Manfred Sihle-Wissel was born in Tallinn, Estonia in 1934. In 1945, he moved to Hamburg. He studied at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste from 1954 to 1959. His teachers included Edwin Scharff and Hans Martin Ruwoldt. He became Scharff’s assistant.
Sihle-Wissel received the Edwin Scharff Prize from Hamburg in 1972. In 1987, he won the Art Prize of the Schleswig-Holsteinische Wirtschaft. He became a member of the Free Academy of Arts in Hamburg in 1975. Over 50 of his sculptures are in public spaces. These are mainly in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein.
His style features angular and clear forms. They are often abstract but based on human forms. Since the 1990s, he also created colorful wood and bronze works. Sihle-Wissel is also a well-known painter. Since 1989, he has created over 300 portraits. These include portraits of famous people. Since 1981, he has lived and worked in Brammer near Rendsburg.
The Transformation eines Würfels was a gift from NBG on May 3, 1977. The building behind the sculpture was built for Deutsche Texaco between 1975 and 1977. Wintershall Dea used the building until 2023.
Take a closer look at the bronze. Notice how the light plays on its many surfaces. The Transformation eines Würfels invites you to see beyond the initial form. It encourages you to appreciate the beauty of transformation. It stands as a testament to Sihle-Wissel’s artistic vision. This sculpture shows a journey from simplicity to complexity.