Vier Männer auf Bojen by Stephan Balkenhol, Modern sculpture installation in Hamburg, Germany

Vier Männer auf Bojen is a sculpture installation where four identical male figures stand on water buoys across Hamburg's rivers and waterways. Each wears black pants and a white shirt, stands upright with hands on hips, and gazes calmly into the distance.

The artwork was created in 1993 by artist Stephan Balkenhol and originally consisted of oak wood figures. In 2020, the wooden versions were replaced with aluminum figures to protect the installation from long-term weathering and water damage.

The figures occupy spaces that feel part of Hamburg's daily life, positioned on waterways where residents and visitors naturally pass by. They create a link between art and everyday urban experience rather than sitting in a museum or distant park.

The figures are visible from the shore or from boats and can be observed from several vantage points around the city. The installation typically remains in place from spring through autumn, as the figures are removed during winter to prevent damage from ice.

The figures are mounted on flat-water buoys, not on land, and each is fixed firmly to its base. Since 1993 they have stood at four Hamburg sites: the Elbe near Övelgönne, the Serrahn in Bergedorf, the Outer Alster near the Gurlitt-Insel, and the Süderelbe east of the Europabrücke. In winter they are taken ashore and repaired.