Surely you’ve noticed the peculiar W\u00fcrfelobjekt Sculpture. It stands here in Hamburg. This is no ordinary sculpture. It is a testament to Hamburg’s vibrant art scene.
The W\u00fcrfelobjekt Sculpture is part of Hamburg’s extensive sculpture collection. This collection is one of the oldest in the city. It all started with Alfred Lichtwark. He was the first director of the Hamburger Kunsthalle.
Lichtwark wanted sculptures of noble material. He thought Hamburg deserved a public sculpture collection. His vision was ambitious. He was well-connected. Lichtwark’s approach was unprecedented. He looked beyond the museum walls. He considered outdoor spaces.
Initially, the Kunsthalle had a collection of casts. These were primarily from antiquity and the Renaissance. They represented the artistic ideal of antiquity. Lichtwark also found coins and medals. These miniature sculptures fascinated him. He expanded this collection. He worked closely with international museum directors. He also collaborated with up-and-coming sculptors. Lichtwark acquired art directly from German and French studios. The innovative French art medals became the foundation.
From 1891 he systematically built a collection. This collection contributed new ideas. It inspired modern medals and plaques. During Lichtwark’s time, the Sculpture Department grew. It added over 150 full-round sculptures. It also included approximately 1000 plaques and medals.
Lichtwark considered his overall concept for the museum. He added graphic and photographic works by sculptors. These holdings offer unique insights into their creative processes. Lichtwark’s successor, Gustav Pauli, continued his work. He complemented the collection. He added Italian Renaissance medallions and antique coins.
Carl Georg Heise noted that sculpture had remained a stepchild. He acquired nearly eighty works of German and European sculpture. Alfred Hentzen built on this activity. He added international artists like Hans Arp and Alberto Giacometti. Werner Hofmann advanced the department. He focused on multi-materiality. He explored diversity of form and space in 20th-century art.
The artists defied traditional rules. They also challenged the canon of materials. The department has grown for over 110 years. It happened through acquisitions and donations. In 2001, it was partially dissolved. It was no longer developed as a separate entity.
Since mid-2024, the collection has been reunited. It is now under new leadership. Currently, a research project is underway. It aims to consolidate the historical basis. This involves recording, examining, and digitizing over 6000 coins and art medals. The goal is to make them accessible to researchers and the public.
This research explores connections between media. It also examines relationships to other museum holdings. The results will be incorporated into a new collection presentation. It will start in April 2026. The show will juxtapose sculptures. It will include works from other areas of the collection. Visitors can engage in exciting transitions. They can experience shifts between surface, object, and space.
The unprecedented display will invite exploration. It allows the public to discover new phenomena. It can be found on the ground floor of the original building. Next time you’re near, take a long look at the W\u00fcrfelobjekt Sculpture. It’s a piece of Hamburg’s artistic soul.