BAD HOMBURG.- The thirteenth
Blickachsen Sculpture Biennale was officially opened on Sunday 14 May and has already attracted hundreds of interested visitors. Blickachsen 13 brings together over 30 contemporary sculptures and installations in the Kurpark and Schlosspark in Bad Homburg, Germany. Until 1 October 2023, the exhibition once again invites visitors to experience diverse artworks of the highest quality on a leisurely walk through the historic park landscapes of the city.
The official opening of the 2023 Blickachsen summer was held on a beautiful spring day on the Schmuckplatz in the Bad Homburg Kurpark. More than 300 Blickachsen enthusiasts from far and wide attended the opening ceremony alone.
The guests were greeted by Alexander W. Hetjes, Mayor of the city of Bad Homburg.
Dr. Manuel Lösel, State Secretary in the Hessian Ministry of Culture, paid tribute to the Biennale also on behalf of its patron, the Minister President of Hessen, Boris Rhein. In his subsequent speech, Stefan Quandt, Blickachsen supporter and Chairman of the Blickachsen Foundation Board of Trustees, expressed his pleasure that Blickachsen has returned after the Corona years, and thanked all supporters of the Biennale for their loyalty over this period. Christian K. Scheffel, founder and curator of Blickachsen, emphasized the enormous commitment of all participants and introduced the international artists who were present. As honorary guests, almost all the artists had travelled to the opening, and the audience, many of whom had followed the setting up of the exhibition in the public space, gave them a warm welcome. Scheffel specially thanked this year’s partner institution, the Stiftung Insel Hombroich, and its director, Roland Nachtigäller, together with whom he curated Blickachsen 13. In his speech for the opening, Roland Nachtigäller inspired those present to take a walking tour through the exhibition in the extensive historical parks.
The large guided group tours were complemented by many guests who wished to explore the artworks individually. Thomas Schütte’s larger than life “United Enemies”, the artist duo Winter/Hoerbelt’s “Die Perlen des Alltags” (Everyday Pearls), made of car rear-light covers, or Bettina Pousttchi’s glowing red “Vertical Highways” quickly became popular photo motifs, while for example, Tamara Grcic’s or Sonja Vordermaier’s installations, specially made for the exhibition, prompted enthusiastic discussion and invited observers to a change of perspective. In the Schlosspark, visible from afar, “Blossom” by Pedro Cabrita Reis, a construction made of rectangular pipes, enthralled viewers, while closer up, “Physalis” by Katsuhito Nishikawa brought visitors to stop and contemplate for a moment, only then to discover works such as Norbert Kricke’s “Große Kurve 2” (Great Curve 2) or the works in brick by Judith Hopf.
The huge success of the first public tours in the last few days and the heavy demand for guided tours in the coming months are further proof of the immense public interest in Blickachsen 13, with works by 24 artists: Gili Avissar, Pedro Cabrita Reis, Michael Dekker, Tamara Grcic, Sabine Groß, Erwin Heerich, Judith Hopf, Gereon Krebber, Norbert Kricke, Oliver Kruse, Arik Levy, Wilhelm Mundt, Katsuhito Nishikawa, Bettina Pousttchi, Thomas Rentmeister, Fernando Sánchez Castillo, Thomas Schütte, Paul Schwer, Esther Stocker, William Tucker, Sonja Vordermaier, Ina Weber, Winter/Hoerbelt.
