Vandals have once again destroyed a famous sculpture by renowned German artist Berndt Wilde in Birkenwerder, marking the second time the artwork has been targeted by destructive acts. The 7.5-foot-tall sandstone sculpture titled "Great Peace Woman" was toppled and destroyed on Monday evening along the Sculpture Boulevard that runs between Birkenwerder and Hohen Neuendorf. The perpetrators also knocked over a wooden sculpture called "Sumo Wrestler" by Japanese artist Nanako Shikata, which had also been previously vandalized.
This marks a devastating repeat of events that occurred in September 2021, when the same sandstone figure was first destroyed and left broken into four pieces on the ground. The sculpture was a permanent loan from the artist to the community. Following the initial destruction, residents of Birkenwerder and Hohen Neuendorf spent months collecting donations to fund the extensive restoration work needed to rebuild the artwork.
Berndt Wilde, born in Dessau in 1946 and an emeritus professor at the Weißensee Academy of Art, is considered one of Germany's most prominent sculptors. As a master student of Werner Stötzer, he has had a lasting impact on German sculpture. After the 2021 vandalism, Wilde worked alongside a professional restorer to reconstruct the figure from the broken fragments, deliberately choosing to leave the traces of destruction visible as part of the artwork's new narrative.
When the restored sculpture was re-dedicated in June of last year, Wilde expanded its meaning to reflect contemporary global conflicts. "In light of the horror of ongoing and new wars since 2022, the Great Peace Woman is now also dedicated to the countless innocent victims and sufferers in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and worldwide," the artist stated during the re-dedication ceremony.
The repeated attacks have highlighted the unique and irreplaceable nature of artistic works. "An artwork is one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable. It's not like a damaged or destroyed car, where damage can be assessed and then replaced," explained the Sculpture Boulevard Association. The perpetrators from the 2021 incident were never identified despite police investigations, and authorities have still not apprehended those responsible.
Police have once again secured evidence at both crime scenes and launched an investigation for property damage following this latest act of vandalism. The repeated targeting of these artworks has shocked the local community and raised concerns about the protection of public art installations.
The Sculpture Boulevard itself emerged from a neighborhood initiative that successfully prevented the oversized expansion of Birkenwerderstraße in 2009. The traffic-calmed street was transformed into an outdoor art venue, with the Sculpture Boulevard officially opening in October 2017. The unique cultural space features numerous installations and sculptures, along with a street art gallery and regular art festivals, making it an important cultural destination in the region.
