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Germany
Ehekarussell
The "Ehekarussell" or "Marriage Carousel" is a unique and fascinating modern fountain located in Nuremberg, Germany. It is not just a piece of art but a storybook in itself that depicts the various stages of married life, from the joyous beginnings to the inevitable end.
The Ehekarussell was designed and built by Jürgen Weber, a German sculptor, between 1977 and 1981. The fountain's design was inspired by a 16th-century bawdy poem about marriage by Hans Sachs, the most famous poet of the Nuremberg Meistersinger school. Weber’s allegorical interpretation of the poem is packed with symbolism and dark humor, which can be both fascinating and unsettling.
The fountain consists of several sculptural groups made of concrete and bronze, each representing a different stage of marital life. The first group shows a young and enamored couple, the second shows a pregnant woman and her husband, the third depicts a tired and worn-out husband carrying his wife, the fourth illustrates a battle between the couple, and the fifth shows the end of life with a skeleton.
The Ehekarussell is not your typical idyllic, romantic representation of marriage. It portrays the trials and tribulations, the ups and downs, the joy and the pain, the laughter and the tears, the love and the hatred that can all be part of a marital relationship. The sculptures are grotesque, dramatic, and explicit, telling a tale of marriage that is far from fairy-tale like.
While the exterior of the fountain is captivating with its intricate details, the interior is no less interesting. Inside the fountain, there's a mechanical carousel that rotates the water, creating an illusion of movement among the sculptures. The pool's dark, reflective surface adds depth and intensity to the whole scene, making the figures appear as if they're floating.
Despite the controversial nature of the Ehekarussell, or perhaps because of it, the fountain has become one of the most popular landmarks in Nuremberg. It is a place that invites contemplation and discussion, a place that reminds us that life and love are never just black and white, but full of shades of gray.