A towering stainless steel sculpture by renowned artist Kurt Schwerdtfeger has found new life after disappearing eight years ago when Hannover's Eastern District Hospital was demolished. The artwork, titled "Aquarium," which once graced the hospital's courtyard, has been reinstalled just a stone's throw from its original location on Podbielskistraße, thanks to the determined efforts of the Buchholz-Kleefeld district council and financial support from housing company Hanova and the city.
The story of this artistic rescue highlights the often precarious nature of street art and public sculptures. When urban development and demolition threaten cultural landmarks, artworks can easily vanish forever, as happened with Schwerdtfeger's "Cloud Fountain" in 2001. That piece, created in collaboration with Diether Heisig, was removed during the redesign of the Passerelle and subsequently disappeared into a construction yard, becoming one of the nearly forgotten casualties of urban progress.
At a small street-side celebration marking the sculpture's return, Cultural Affairs Director Eva Bender praised the artwork as "approachable, playful, and cheerful." She emphasized the importance of public art, its reinstallation, and finding new locations for such works within the city. The man-sized steel sculpture, featuring waves, anemones, and fish motifs, now stands prominently along the Podbi, where it can once again be admired by passersby after eight years of absence.
Kurt Schwerdtfeger is no stranger to Hannover's artistic landscape. The sculptor and Bauhaus artist taught as a professor of art education in nearby Hildesheim after World War II until his death in 1966. Several of his outdoor sculptures can be found throughout Hannover, including "Cloud Flight" on the grounds of Maximilian-Kolbe School. His artistic legacy continues through his late son Stefan, who became an extraordinarily productive artist in his own right, creating notable works such as the Leibniz Monument on Opera Square and the "Nessi" worm sculpture in the Passerelle, which he created together with Diether Heisig.
The reinstallation ceremony brought together members of the Schwerdtfeger family, including grandchildren Julia and Robin, as well as great-granddaughter Paula, who now manages the estate of great-grandfather Kurt. Carina Plath, head of the city's Public Art Department, announced that the new location will also become part of the municipal art trail, which already includes more than 60 artistic works scattered throughout the city.
The restoration project required some practical compromises due to budget constraints. The supporters made a small but necessary adjustment during the reconstruction process – since restoring the original fountain system would have exceeded available funds, Schwerdtfeger's steel waves, anemones, and fish now rest on green ground rather than in water. However, the installation maintains the welcoming spirit of its original hospital courtyard setting, complete with a bench at the sculpture's base that invites walkers to sit and contemplate the artwork, just as visitors once did at its previous location.
