Bodenseereiter, Fountain sculpture in Überlingen, Germany
The Bodenseereiter is a bronze sculpture in Überlingen that shows a rider wearing ice skates instead of traditional riding boots, combined with water fountains. The figure sits on a horse and appears as a modern reinterpretation of classical equestrian monument forms.
Artist Peter Lenk created this work in 1999 in response to local art debates and social questions. The piece emerged during a time when Überlingen was reexamining its artistic identity.
The sculpture depicts a poet on horseback, reflecting the link between literature and artistic creation. Visitors see here a representation that brings writing and creative expression together.
The sculpture is accessible year-round and is located in Überlingen's pedestrian zone with wheelchair-friendly paths nearby. Visitors can easily reach the work from the town center and view the water fountains from various angles.
The ice skates instead of riding boots were a deliberate artistic choice meant to represent writers grappling with the twists of German history. This unexpected detail makes the sculpture a metaphor symbolizing movement across difficult terrain.
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