Duisburg has a new landmark: Tiger & Turtle - Magic Mountain

"Every artist seeks to create a magical work during his lifetime", says Ulrich Genth. The artist has entitled and entire mountain as magical: "Tiger & Turtle - Magic Mountain” is the title of the large sculpture at Landmarke Angerpark that he is realising in cooperation with Heike Mutter.

The artistic duo received several awards and created numerous works in the area of "art in public space". Heike Mutter also teaches at the Hamburg Universtiy of Fine Arts; Ulrich Genth received the Hamburg Work Scholarship for Fine Arts in 2009.
At this time, they work on creating "Tiger & Turtle" on the former zinc smeltery's grounds vis-à-vis the smeltery Krupp Mannesmann - in a surrounding of industries, harbour and residential buildings at the Heinrich-Hildebrand-Höhe in the Angerpark in Duisburg-Wanheim. The walk-on sculpture that resembles a roaller coaster shall be opened in fall 2011. Ulrich Genth: "The roaller coaster stands for acceleration and high speed of a tiger but the visitor has to explore it step by step like a turtle." Heike Mutter adds: "The sculpture is an optical experience even from far away and yet it can be walked on via the steps." However, visitors face a limit as the looping cannot be walked on."

From slag to public park
For 100 years, the Wanheim-based smelting works Berzelius (MHD, later on called Sudamin MHD) had produced zinc in the Wanheim-Angerhausen district. In 2005, the company went into insolvency. Shortly after, it was closed. The former slag heap was environmentally secured and transformed into a public park in 2008. As for now, three elements of the sculpture have already been installed and could be visited in the course of a construction site tour on July 23rd, 2011.

 

3-D stairs made from steel and zinc
120 tons of galvanised steel are mounted and welded for the sculpture on the heap - 17 posts ensure a safe stand for the 20-metre tall landmark. The walkway area will amount to 220 metres including 249 steps. The handrails will feature LED lighting that illuminates the stair race. "The materials steel and zinc provide the historical connection with the site where zinc used to be produced and where Krupp Mannesman is located - one of the most important steel processing companies", says Söko Dinkla, director of the Capital of Culture office in Duisburg.

90 per cent of the two-million-euro project come from the ecological renewal programme Emscher-Lippe of the state NRW (ÖPEL). But also the EU, RUHR2010 and many sponsors such as the smelting works Krupp Mannesmann (HIKM) are involved.

From industrial site to artistic location - even before its completion, the "Tiger & Turtle" sculpture marks another spot on the art map of the Ruhr area. A sculpture that visitors can explore without fear and that presents a great artistic landmark before a historical background.

A model of the large sculpture on a 1:33 scale and pictures including further information on its development, the competition and its construction period can be viewed until August 13th at the exhibition: Landmarke Angerpark – The Making of "Tiger & Turtle" located at the shopping centre Forum Duisburg.