The "Global Gate" at the Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site in Essen sends out a strong signal for democracy: the world's largest mobile work of art symbolizes freedom and unity as an impressive reinterpretation of the Brandenburg Gate. The 24-metre-wide, 21-metre-high and 6-metre-deep work by Markus Schäfer, which is made up of 37 freight containers, addresses topics such as division and oppression, war and peace as well as global values and norms. Viewers can explore the challenges of modern societies as they walk around the containers using images and slogans such as interactive VR elements.
"Don't let idiots ruin your day" and "Fear has two meanings: Forget everything & run or face everything & rise" are written on the attraction at Werner-Müller-Platz. One side of the gate connects around 12,000 monkey head images to form a colossal work of art. It is modeled on Michelangelo's "The Creation of Adam". An artificial intelligence created the composition and put all the individual parts together to form a large whole. The other side shows a large graffiti masterpiece consisting of several motifs. Art fans can make out surreal-looking animals, modern communication objects and the urban jungle. Lines such as "No War", "Freedom of Speech" or "Fear, Hope, Love" inspire thoughts alongside the colorful sensory stimulants.
Stations all over the world
Since 2020, the Global Gate has already made stops in Frankfurt, Dubai and Hamburg. Now it has been at the Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site since October 29, 2024 with a new artistic vision by Thomas Wirth aka Super*me. If you would like to see the Global Gate for yourself, you have until March 30, 2025 to do so before it moves on to another location.
