As part of a three year Europe-wide campaign for peaceful togetherness and tolerance, there was a flock of about fifty blue sheep grazing in front of Bonn city hall last Friday and Saturday (May 18th and 19th, 2012).
The sheep are created by the (installation) artist Rainer Bonk (born in Duisburg) in cooperation with Bertamaria Reetz, a Cologne artist. The artists fashions all his blue sheep out of bright blue polyester resin. The different installions comprise usually between fifty and one hundred and fifty sheep.
Upon taking a closer look you will notice that the sheep are all the same, one model reproduced again and again. According to the artist that is in keeping with the motto of the campaign “Alle sind gleich – Jeder ist wichtig“ – “All men are equal – Each and Everyone is important”. That motto is embossed on the front pair of legs of each sheep.
The flock of blue sheep have made an appearance not only in a number of different European countries such as Austria, Italy (“ Pecore blu”), France (“Allez les bleus”) and the Netherlands (“Een Kudde blauwe Scharpen”) but also in a number of cities in Germany. They could be admired in front of the famous Cologne Cathedral, Hanseatic City of Lübeck (home of the real marzipan - I just could not pass up the opportunity to point that out), Berlin, Hannover, Kiel and Münster.
The artist Rainer Bock calls himself a “Blauschäfer” – “Blue Shepherd” - here he can be seen amongst his flock as he had installed it in Bonn.
As part of Bock´s campaign every major of the „host cities“ receives one sheep as a thank you to be displayed at city hall.
Interested buyers/art collectors can acquire a sheep for the price of 75 Euros and I have found a few blue sheep grazing in and around Bonn.
For more information on Rainer Bock and his blue sheep, you can visit his website at www.blaue-schafe.de And for more information on Bertamaria Reetz, her gallery and her art, you can visit her website (www.bertamaria.de). Unfortunately both websites were only designed in German.
How cute to have a blue sheep in my balcony!
ReplyDeleteThank you Paula, now if I could only figure out a way to pack up one of those sheep and ship it to you...do you think sheep could "fly"...seriously, I am also thinking of getting one, maybe for my birthday?!
DeleteWhat a great campaign. The sheep certainly stand out in the landscape. It would be neat if they made an appearance here! I love your photos, Andrea, especially the ones with the sheep in the balconies. :)
ReplyDeleteElaine, I should really write to the artist and ask him whether there are any plans to "install" them ouside of the European countries.
DeleteC'est un concept très intéressant et semble être une bonne façon de promouvoir la tolérance auprès des gens. Il serait intrigant de voir cette campagne se répartir vers le reste du monde !
ReplyDeletePar ailleurs, le fait de choisir la couleur bleu pour les moutons, ajoute un ton de contraste et d'originalité. C'est donc une bonne façon de faire parler de ce mouvement !
Frédéric, merci beaucoup pour ton commentaire intéressant et attentif. J`apprécie beaucoup le temps que tu a pris pour lire mon petit "discours".
DeleteAndrea, Thank you for sharing this with your North American friends. I found this so unique and interesting. Just love the idea for it and the idea of it. I have forwarded your Post to many of my artistic friends. I wonder if this will find its way "across the Pond". (I also could read the entire comment (above) that was written in French. I am soooo proud of myself.) I hope you will keep writing these Posts about your excursions, your shops, as well as these artistic events.
ReplyDeleteMary, on the website of the artist it says that if someone is able to find a new place where he can install his sheep, that person will get "a sheep as a gift" - maybe we should convince him to pack up his sheep and take them across the ocean for one of his installations and bring one or two along for you...actually, I believe that is a wonderful idea! A blue sheep for your "new home"! Hope that you artistic friends like the idea with the sheep. And hats off with respect to the French - it certainly is not always an easy language!
DeleteGreat campaign...and quite a sight :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lizzy. The artist does semm to be very successful - it is a fun way to get a lot of attention.
DeleteI love your posts about the art around you in Bonn. I like the idea of the blue sheep campaign, and they are cute too. I would buy one if they showed up in my city! I hope you get one for your birthday.
ReplyDeleteBetsy, this campaign sure attracts a lot of attention and it is a lot of fun. I remain hopeful with respect to getting one for my birthday...
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