Hammering Man, Steel sculpture at Messeturm, Frankfurt, Germany
Hammering Man is a steel sculpture in Frankfurt standing about 21 meters tall with a mechanical arm that moves up and down steadily throughout the day. The structure shows a human torso in a working position near the Messeturm building.
The sculpture was installed in 1990 near Messeturm and was the first in a series of similar works created by artist Jonathan Borofsky in cities around the world. It was made as a symbol for working life at the end of the 20th century.
The figure represents working people everywhere and shows how thinking and physical work go together through its constant movement. It reflects the importance of human effort in making things.
The artwork stands near the Frankfurt Trade Fair grounds and is easy to reach with good viewing angles from all sides of the plaza. The area is well lit and the movements can be seen from early morning until evening.
The artwork is part of a global network of similar sculptures that hammer simultaneously in cities like Seoul, Seattle, and Basel, connecting people across different continents. This synchronized action creates a shared artistic experience that spans across the world.
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