Balanceakt by Stephan Balkenhol, Bronze sculpture at Axel-Springer-Strasse, Berlin, Germany.
Balanceakt is a bronze and concrete sculpture in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg depicting a man in a white shirt and dark trousers balanced on an authentic segment of the Berlin Wall. The artwork stands about 5.7 meters tall and integrates this historical wall fragment directly into the sculptural composition.
The work was unveiled in 2009 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Axel-Springer building's foundation stone. Artist Stephan Balkenhol created a response to decades of division by incorporating an actual wall segment into the sculptural design.
The figure embodies balance between opposing forces and speaks to the psychological tensions that gripped a divided city. Visitors recognize how an artist translated the inner fragmentation of a nation into a physical gesture.
The sculpture stands at the corner of Axel-Springer-Strasse and Zimmerstrasse and is easily accessible from the street. You can view the work free of charge at any time since it sits in public space.
A vandal attack in 2012 left orange-red paint on the artwork, underscoring its vulnerability and ongoing relationship with the public. Efforts to restore and protect the sculpture remain an ongoing concern for Berlin authorities.
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