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An exemplary cooperation between culture and economy

In September 2002, the sculpture “Nach Vorne” (“Ahead”) by the Chilean artist Alejandra Ruddoff was ceremonially uncurtained and thereby dedicated to regional capital Potsdam.

It was initiated by the citizens' initiative “Pro Schiffbauergasse” and was meant as a symbol of the new cultural and economical location “Schiffbauergasse” near the Humboldt Bridge. At the cities busiest junction, right beside the Shipbuilder’s Lane, the public’s attention is directed to the location’s development. It was unfortunately destroyed by vandalism, but it was repaired with the help of many involved parties, especially the support of the Ministry for Infrastructure and Regional Planning. In April 2006, the sculpture was repositioned on its original site.

The initiatives’ long term goal from the beginning was to cast the sculpture in metal, and at this time a further step in that direction could be made. In cooperation with the Volkswagen Design Center, which is also located in the Shipbuilder’s Lane, a detailed casting pattern in scale 1:3 was produced in October and November 2006. Alejandra Ruddoff was given the chance to perfect and finish her model in the design center’s studio. This took place in close cooperation with the employees of the model workshop. The necessary equipment and the materials were made available by VW Design Center. Both sides benefited in the project: art made use of technique and the designers practiced with the ‘free form’. Once again, the Shipbuilder’s Lane showed how culture and economy can work hand in hand, complement one another, and benefit from each other.

The Humboldt Bridge and the city-facing access ramp are currently being renovated and redesigned, and therefore the sculpture has found a new home: straight opposite on Behlertstraße. There it will still be very present in public.

Alejandra Ruddoff is one of the most important sculptors in Latin America. Her works circle around issues like dynamic and static, the tension of figure, construction and material in space, springiness and behaviour; this is probably how “Nach Vorne” and the Shipbuilder’s Lane found each other.

In order to make the entire project happen, tax-deductible donations for maintenance and permanent placement of the sculpture “Nach Vorne” can be remitted to the account of the non-profit association KultBrain e.V., c/o Herrn Jochim Sedemund, Acct. No. 500 502 002, Deutsche Bank Köln, Bank code No. 370 700 24, keyword “Nach Vorn“.

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