Undine wins: Modern art conquers the Havel city of Brandenburg

Undine wins: Modern art conquers the Havel city of Brandenburg

The view of the Havel is a constant longing for the new Undine, the magnificent statue that has stood at the Packhof since 2015. It was launched as part of a design competition, the terms of which were designed by architect Achim Krekeler. Monika Spieß and Dirk Harms were among the participating artists, but they did not receive the commission. Instead, the artist duo Knuth Seim and Heike Adner prevailed and convinced the jury with their modern interpretation of Undine. As meetingpoint-brandenburg.de reports, the character is based on the fairy tale of the same name by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué, which was published in 1811.

The statue showcases the legendary mermaid at an impressive height of 1.50 meters. The work on this bronze statue was anything but short-term: the entire process from the first stroke to completion took around five years. To create the figure, Knuth Seim worked in plaster before the individual parts were manufactured at a foundry in Landin. The statue was sawn into eight pieces, which were then reinforced with steel rods and welded together. In the final version, the Undine weighs an impressive 150 kilograms.

A piece of history

Although the Undine is a cultural symbol for many, it has no roots in the Havel city itself. Its creator, Friedrich Heinrich Karl de la Motte Fouqué, was born on February 12, 1777 in Brandenburg an der Havel and is considered one of the pioneers of German Romanticism. He came from an old French Huguenot family and was educated by various tutors. In his youth he joined the Prussian army and took part in the Rhine campaign of 1794. Fouqué was not only active militarily, but also an active writer and published numerous important works, including the story “Undine”, which appeared in 1811. According to wikipedia.org this is his best-known work and has been republished several times.

The statue of Undine is located on a small headland of the Packhof and was ceremoniously unveiled on April 11, 2015. There are three QR codes on the base of the statue that provide further information about the figure, the artist and the Rotary Club that was involved in the realization of the project. This makes the work of art not only a visual highlight on the water, but also an interactive source of information for passers-by and interested parties.

A look into the future

The figure not only stands as an artistic symbol, but also as a starting point for the continuation of culture in the region. The city of Brandenburg an der Havel honored the important poet and his works by founding the Fouqué Library in 1998 and organizes an annual Undine writing competition for young talents. In times when the connection between art and history seems more important than ever, the Undine at the Packhof remains a shining example of the meeting of tradition and modern understanding of art.