Ludwig Erhard project

On 18 May 2018, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, officially inaugurated the Ludwig Erhard Zentrum in Fürth. The new serial Ludwig Erhard sculpture first presented on the occasion was developed by Ottmar Hörl at the initiative of Evi Kurz, chairwoman of the board of trustees of the Stiftung Ludwig-Erhard-Haus foundation.

Ludwig Erhard is one of the most important characters in post-war German history. The first Minister of Economic Affairs and second Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, he is firmly rooted in collective memory as the father of the German economic miracle, or Wirtschaftswunder. His concept of social market economy is still regarded as being tantamount to the success and prosperity of our society. (Source: Ludwig Erhard Zentrum, Fürth)

Corresponding with this idea, the monochrome colours of the serial figures, silver and bronze, are references to Germany's former currency, the Deutsche mark and pfennig coins. The cigar is Erhard's trademark.

As with all serial sculptures created by Ottmar Hörl to commemorate celebrated public characters, the renowned conceptual artist is not so much interested in creating a classic monument as in offering a stimulus that onlookers might not have expected. The serial figures are an invitation to start communication and enter into a discourse. Due to their relative neutrality, the sculptures serve as a projection screen on which people can project their own thoughts, and also ask themselves new questions. The idea that everyone can participate in this artistic concept develops from the serial sequence. This corresponds to the basic idea of the democratic principle of equality, which is also the basis of educational institutions such as the new Ludwig Erhard Zentrum in Fürth.

Translation of a text by Eva Schickler

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