Floriano Bodini | Göttingen Seven

The ensemble by Floriano Bodini (b. 1933 in Gemonio, Italy – d. 2005) is the result of a competition held by the state of Lower Saxony: The goal was to create a monument to the professors of the University of Göttingen, who became known as the Göttingen Seven, and who in 1837 protested against the suspension of the constitution in the Kingdom of Hannover and were consequently dismissed and, in some cases, expelled from the state. Bodini’s work defines a space whose details invite exploration—they open up contemporary references to democracy, power, and participation. In the larger-than-life sculptures, the artist portrayed his own friends as everyday representatives. Incidentally, the ruler against whom the Göttingen Seven rebelled (also depicted as a figure on horseback in Bodini’s ensemble) was King Ernst August, whom Albert Wolff portrayed in an equestrian statue in front of the main train station in 1861. The work was initiated by the Knigge Society and financed by renowned Lower Saxon companies, foundations, and associations, as well as numerous donations from citizens. It is the property of the State of Lower Saxony. » Location: Platz der Göttinger Sieben