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Artist Koch and his project: "The statue is not a political tribute, rather a personal one"
Photo:
Marcus Rebmann
2.70 meters tall and from the 3D printer: In June, the artist Wilhelm Koch had the idea of putting Angela Merkel on an American Quarter Horse.
On Friday evening, Koch presented his concrete sculpture to around 150 visitors.
She is expected to stand in front of the Temple Museum in Etsdorf in the Upper Palatinate, which Koch runs on a voluntary basis, until the coming summer.
SPIEGEL:
Mr. Koch, the sculpture you made of Angela Merkel: appreciation or pure irony?
Wilhelm Koch:
Both resonate.
It has many facets, we are currently showing a photo exhibition by the Hamburg resident Till Briegleb in our temple museum in Etsdorf, who photographically focuses on equestrian statues and has also made a book that I initiated.
That is actually the background to the statue.
Briegleb also describes in his book that equestrian statues have actually completely fallen out of time.
Except for Trump, Putin or the one from North Korea, you can no longer really imagine a politician on a horse.
Briegleb goes on to write in his book that such an equestrian statue does not suit one person: Angela Merkel.
SPIEGEL:
Someone says it doesn't work - and you did it?
Koch:
Yes, as a sculptor such an equestrian statue is very exciting because it offers many references, from historical to modern.
Above all, there was my artistic interest as a sculptor.
Interpreting Ms. Merkel was not of great interest to me.
The statue is not a political tribute, but rather a personal one.
SPIEGEL:
What did you pay attention to during implementation?
Koch:
Well, regardless of politics, Ms. Merkel is an icon.
Almost everyone knows the ingredients of this icon: her head of hair, clothes, posture and hands.
When we transported Ms. Merkel on the trailer in front of the museum on Thursday, a woman on the roadside recognized her immediately - and laughed heartily.
There is hardly a person who has such a recognition value in Germany.
Regardless of their politics.
"I think we'll have a Merkel beer then."
Koch about a possible visit from the Chancellor
SPIEGEL:
And you didn't even give it a pedestal.
Koch:
That is also dedicated to Ms. Merkel.
She is considered very modest.
And for a contemporary equestrian statue, a base is simply no longer appropriate.
She now looks more like she's going on a riding holiday in the Upper Palatinate, on a quarter horse.
Maybe a gift from Trump.
SPIEGEL:
Without a saddle and without reins?
Koch:
She doesn't need that.
She does it as a matter of course.
I didn't mean to make a caricature.
SPIEGEL:
And what if Angela Merkel actually comes to see you in the Upper Palatinate?
Koch:
I think we'll have a Merkel beer together.
Our mayor is also the master brewer, the brewery is called Merkel.
The beer was also unveiled yesterday, with the Merkel label, of course.
SPIEGEL:
And how long will the Merkel statue stand in front of your museum?
Koch:
See you next summer, that's the plan.
Whether it really turns out that way also depends on the reactions.
You never know what's coming.
