Ein neuer erfolgreicher Tag, Contemporary sculpture at Kasinokreisel in Wuppertal, Germany.
Ein neuer erfolgreicher Tag is a bronze sculpture showing a young businessman performing a handstand in shirt, pants, and holding a briefcase on a concrete pedestal. The work measures about 2 meters tall and sits on a substantial base, with careful attention given to every detail of his business attire.
The work was created in 2008 by Belgian conceptual artist Guillaume Bijl, who positioned it as a critical commentary on the financial world. It emerged during a time of major economic upheaval and was funded with support from the Sparda-Bank West Foundation for Art, Culture and Social Affairs.
Locals call the sculpture "Krawattenmann" (Tie Man) because passers-by hung real ties on the figure after its bronze tie was stolen. The work is deliberately humorous and kitschy, based on a magazine photo, and the figure clearly represents a banker "who made a lot of money that day."
The artwork sits at the intersection of Herzogstrasse, Friedrich-Ebert-Strasse, and Kasinostrasse, making it easy to locate. The spot is well accessible on foot, and the surrounding area offers plenty of room to view the sculpture from different angles.
The bronze briefcase, weighing 60 kg, was stolen in January 2015 and replaced at a cost of 5,000 euros, then vanished again in October 2015; the bank offered a 500-euro reward. In summer 2016 it was replaced by an epoxy-resin case with a cast steel core. The tie was first torn off in September 2008, and passers-by hung real ties on the figure, giving it the nickname Krawattenmann.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,654 contributors worldwide.