Poetic Justice

The proposal for the Franz-Mehring-Platz 1 (FMP1) in Berlin, where two intensely pink giraffe sculptures reinterpret historical narratives through public art. These sculptures replicate taxidermic giraffes housed at Museum Koenig in Bonn, which became symbolic of Germany’s colonial legacy—a chapter often overshadowed by the Holocaust and seldom acknowledged.

In 1948, the giraffes gained historical significance during the ceremonial opening of the Parliamentary Council, held in Bonn’s Museum Koenig due to a lack of other representative venues. The giraffes were shrouded during the event, symbolizing Germany's discomfort with its colonial past. The giraffes now reemerge at FMP1, offering a public space to confront and reflect on this overlooked history.

The artwork situates the pink giraffes on a southern lawn at FMP1, juxtaposing their surreal presence with the modernist architecture of the square, built during the Cold War for the former DDR. Their vibrant color and symbolic placement engage the public in a dialogue about racialized bodies, colonial history, and inclusivity. The sculptures honor marginalized groups, including racial minorities, migrants, and others persecuted globally, urging society to remember histories often omitted.

Technically, the sculptures involve detailed 3D scanning of the original giraffes, followed by fiber-glass printing and waterproofing, ensuring durability. The design preserves giraffe-skin textures with slight surface relief, accentuated by a vivid pink hue to amplify their visibility. Anchoring mechanisms stabilize the statues while preserving the square’s aesthetic harmony.

By recontextualizing colonial symbols in a contemporary urban setting, "Poetic Justice" transforms overlooked historical artifacts into poignant agents of societal reflection, fostering a more inclusive narrative for the future.