The Laeiszhalle Hamburg

Laeiszhalle, Hamburg

The Laeiszhalle (pronounced lie-ss-ha-le), home of the Hamburg Symphony is named after the Hamburg businessman Reeder Carl Laeisz, who left 1.2m German marks in his will to fund a 'music hall' in Hamburg. His widow made the sum up to 2 million Marks. Opened in 1908, this Baroque revival building was one of the few public buildings that survived the second world war intact. Luckily, because it has wonderful acoustics.

Since the opening of the now-famous Elbphilharmonica, new home of the Hamburg Philharmonica and completely sold out until 2019, the Laeiszhalle has enjoyed an increased audience.

Inside the building are sculptures of Hamburg-born composers (including Brahms) and standing outside the building in Johannes Brahms' Platz is a big granite block with the Title Homage to Brahms' created in 1981 by Thomas Darboven. The face of Johannes Brahms at four different ages is carved into its four sides.

Hidden treasure: sculptures in Wanganui

Figures at a gate : Sculpture s at the Wintergarden

I had a Christmas picnic in the Virginia Lake Wintergarden, a magical spot you could so easily overlook  as it is hidden behind the building at the top of the hill. It is definately worth a visit if you are in the area. There is an art school in Wanganui and it is leaving it's mark on the town. The walls at the local backpackers are hung with local artwork and I am sure many others are as well.

Face sculpture

Pukekos and ducks forage in the 'swamp' area at Virginia Lake

Sculpture in Maribor

A new sculpture is being erected in Maribor. It was delivered by a series of large trucks who had to back in between street stalls on market day.

It is next to the large bald statue commemorating the second world war that locals call Kojak.

Kojak with the new sculpture behind it.

The inside is lined with white plastic, it has a door and tonight I discovered its function: it is a music venue. As I walked along to the final concert I discovered a crowd of people lined up outside and I could see a disco set up inside. Walking back from the concert the duff-duff music strangely complemented Beethoven's 9th we had just heard. I wonder if it is a permanent feature.

Immovable figures

The model for life drawing didn't turn up this week so off we went to the AGNSW to draw the sculptures. Sculptures can hold the pose soooo long ....

Open handucff

An open handcuff, made of packaging materials from my move to Dunedin was the result of my sculpture project this year. It relates to my sense of freedom. The handcuff has a chain made of shoe leather, white plastic, then transparent plastic. The final link is open. Are the chains that bind one are real or in ones own head? My handcuff has many keys ... one of them is music.

To make this handcuff I first had to find out how they work, so I went to the Dunedin Police Station to see if I could borrow some. They told me that handcuffs are 'personal issue' so I could not take a pair with me, but they did let me photograph a pair.