Von der Dicken Berta zur Roten Rosa Sculpture

Tumarkin’s “Von der Dicken Berta zur Roten Rosa” stands before us, a jarring juxtaposition of metal and memory. The sculpture, installed in 1991 on Spichernplatz, doesn’t shy away from the complexities of Rosa Luxemburg’s legacy. The title itself sets the stage for this exploration. “Dicke Bertha,” a nickname for a German howitzer used in World War I, represents militarism and destruction. “Rote Rosa,” or Red Rosa, refers to Luxemburg, the Marxist thinker and anti-war activist. The sculpture embodies this clash between war and peace, tradition and revolution. Three pink concrete pedestals support pink-painted railway tracks. Upon these tracks sits a carriage holding technical equipment. Cut out of this wheeled apparatus is the shape of an Iron Cross, then welded back on elsewhere. The western rail bears the sculpture’s name. Attached to the north side of the rails is a steel silhouette of Rosa Luxemburg’s profile, also painted in a light flesh-pink. The artist, Igael Tumarkin, born in Dresden and later residing in Israel, intentionally merges the imagery of the “Dicke Bertha” with the figure of Rosa Luxemburg. This artistic choice forces us to confront the turbulent times in which Luxemburg lived and the ideologies she championed. The sculpture’s current vibrant appearance is thanks to a restoration completed in 2018. This effort was spearheaded by district councilor Heike Schmitt-Schmelz after meeting with Tumarkin in 2017. The restoration highlights the continued relevance of Luxemburg’s ideas and the importance of preserving Tumarkin’s artistic interpretation of her legacy. “Von der Dicken Berta zur Roten Rosa” isn’t merely a static monument. It’s a conversation starter, a thought provoker, and a testament to the enduring power of art to grapple with complex historical figures and their impact on the world.