Iconic photo of defection becomes statue in Berlin

[ehrentitle]

Iconic photo of defection becomes statue in Berlin
http://www.pr-inside.com/print1318517.htm

2009-06-12 15:24:07 -

BERLIN (AP) - A statue depicting an East German guard's leap to freedom, captured in an iconic photograph, was unveiled Friday in Berlin as the country celebrates the 20th anniversary of reunification.

The statue, made of hard foam painted silver, shows 19-year-old Conrad Schumann's leap to freedom in 1961.

Schumann was caught on film by photographer Peter Leibling as he sprang over barbed wire into the West, as the Berlin Wall was being built.
He was the first East German soldier to flee, and the photograph of his leap head bowed and arms spread became one of the best-known images of the Cold War.



Florian Brauer said at the unveiling that he made the life-sized statue, which was installed on private land a block away from where the soldier defected, so that «tourists would have something concrete to photograph.

Brauer said his work will not withstand the elements, and that he hopes to find funding for a permanent version in time for the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in November.

Schumann committed suicide in 1998 for unknown reasons.

[torstenbel]

me, on my last trip to Berlin. They had asked me to model for the statue ...

[Kozlov]

Whats wrong with that cardboard cutout then Genossen? C'mon you lot with your attention to detail....

[Dallasfan]

I find it bizarre that they want to put on a statue for a guy who
defected his country ( FAHNENFLUCHT )


Regards , Johan

[torstenbel]

I find it bizarre that they want to put on a statue for a guy who
defected his country ( FAHNENFLUCHT )


Regards , Johan

his country no longer exists ... it was the loser ... victor's justice ... it is not his country that is putting up the statue for him, but the enemy ... Cheers, Torsten.

[torstenbel]

Whats wrong with that cardboard cutout then Genossen? C'mon you lot with your attention to detail....

you mean, apart from my face being in it??? Loads is wrong with that cardboard cutout ... but so what?? it's just a bit of fun ... Cheers, Torsten.

[Mike G.]

He was Grenzpolizei, not Grenztruppen.

In the overall scheme of things, a small minor glitch, as this is a tourist thing, and certainly not meant to be for preservation of historical posterity, in the context of the statue about which the thread by Kevin was started.

[Kozlov]

I was just having a little forum fun with a photo, nothing serious

[Mike G.]

Hey,

No problem - the Museum (as can be seen from Torsten's pic) also was having a little fun.

I'm glad no one ever recorded any of the wise cracks I often was heard to make at some of the more gory crime scenes to which I responded and investigated. We all are inclined to every now and then defer to the comic side for relief from uncomfortable situations. Human nature and just one of those built in safety mechanisms we all have inside of us.

[Gene T]

From that photo, Herr Brauer's 'statue' appears to be little more than a department store mannequin stuffed into an actual uniform spray-painted in silver, the same kind that one regularly sees in front of the Brandenburg gate, worn by live 'models' who would pose with tourists for a fee. No wonder it's not weather-proof.

If this thing qualifies as a 'statue', and Herr Brauer is a bona fide artist, then WAF's "Collections Display Forum" is a true statue-heaven, and we should feel both blessed and honored to count amongst our brethrens so many certifiable Michelangelos...


Gene T

[torstenbel]

that is certainly what it looks like

[usmedalman]

Missing the Point

Yes the statue is cheesy, but Schumann's act of personal courage and defiance of a corrupt and repressive regime is certainly something that should be remembered and deserves a much better statue. After all, he knew full well what would happen to him if he did not succeed.

I am not sure I would have had the courage to risk my life the way young Schumann did.

[Drugo]

Well, since we're talking about Conrad Schumann, I'd like to show you this autograph that I acquired just a few days ago:

Regards,
Filip