50 years of grandma-and-opa wall picture: Bremen stories wanted!

50 years of grandma-and-opa wall picture: Bremen stories wanted!

Auf den Häfen 30-32, 28203 Bremen, Deutschland - A special piece of Bremen history is celebrating a round anniversary this year: the popular "Grandma-and-OPA wall picture" on the Rembertikreisel is 50 years old. With his charming motif, a smiling old couple, the mural tirelessly draws the looks of the passers -by. This remarkable work of art was created by the Bremen artist Peter K.F. Krueger, who won a competition under the motto "Art in Public Space" in 1975. This competition was an initiative by the city of Bremen, which had set itself the goal of changing the city's facial features by art and making it more livable. The official title of the mural is "view out of the window", and it is not only a visual highlight, but also a symbol for the change in urban planning in Bremen.

The location of the mural is also prominent: it is located in the ports 30-32, right next to the large traffic circle on the Rembertiring. With a size of impressive 18 meters in width and 10.5 meters in height, it was the largest of its kind in Germany. Originally intended as a criticism of the destruction of the Ostertorviertel, it addresses the idyll of age in contrast to the mechanized world and has found a place in the hearts of Bremen over the years.

a call to memory

Based on this milestone birthday, the Workers' Welfare (AWO) Bremen calls the Bremeners to submit personal stories about the mural. The AWO would like to collect the memories of the city population that are closely related to this work of art. The stories can be sent by email to engagier@awo-bremen.de or by post to the AWO Bremen, on the ports 30-32, 28203 Bremen. The stories should be about half to a DIN A4 page long. Authors of the submitted stories are invited to the anniversary celebration in September and can look forward to a little surprise.

The mural has inspired many people over the years and was restored in 1986. Another renovation took place in 2021, with both Krueger and Otto Völker handed in hand. These renovations were generously supported by the AWO, the Wilhelm-Kaisen citizens' aid, the Senator for Culture and private donors. The continuous commitment and investments in such works of art show how important they are for the identity of Bremen

art in public space - an anniversary festival

But the "grandma-and-opa wall picture" is just one of hundreds of works of art that Bremen has to offer. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the "Art in Public Space" initiative, diverse events take place in August and September under the motto "Changing City". The highlight of the celebrations will be the anniversary weekend from August 31 to September 3, including the official opening by Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte on August 31st at 7 p.m. in the municipal gallery. The large anniversary party in the Center for Art in the tobacco district on September 2 from 8 p.m. promises to become another highlight in the Bremen art scene.

So if you have a connection to this important mural or to the Bremen art scene, you should take the opportunity and share your memories. After all, it is this connection that makes art alive and all linked us together.

For more information: Weser Kurier | Art in public space Bremen | Senate press office Bremen