Werner Schreib | Monument for travelers

The relief sculpture by Werner Schreib (b. 1925 in Berlin – d. 1969) has blended into the facade’s material since the construction of what was then the Intercontinental Hotel, near the entrance. As a structural ornament, it is typical of the artist’s work. Nevertheless, upon closer inspection, its abstract forms—which seem vaguely familiar—evoke certain associations. The “Monument for Travelers,” whose title is, appropriately, presented in three languages, evokes thoughts of technology and industry; roughly sketched grids, screws, and rollers appear, interspersed with organic elements. In contrast to the building’s austerity, the work expresses dynamism and movement, with connectors and adapters seeming to reach out toward the travelers. The work is the property of Maritim Hotelgesellschaft mbH. » Location: Friedrichswall (facade of the former Maritim Hotel)