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Man walking to the sky

Man walking to the sky is a sculpture by US artist Jonathan Borofsky. Created for documenta IX in 1992, it was first shown on Kassel’s Friedrichsplatz and later purchased by the city with funds raised through donations. The work consists of a 25-metre steel tube set at a 63° angle, with a painted fiberglass figure attached near the upper third. The figure depicts a man walking purposefully skyward, wearing a purple T-shirt and yellow trousers. After being moved within Kassel, the sculpture was placed in its current location in front of the Kulturbahnhof. Borofsky said he would have preferred it in a park on a hill, while understanding the wish to keep it in a busy urban setting.

The Man Walking to the Sky sculpture rises on a tilted pole in a plaza in front of the main station buildings.
The Man Walking to the Sky sculpture stands in a wide plaza near Kassel’s main station.
June 2015 © · GFDL 1.2
Himmelsstürmer sculpture on a tilted pole against a blue sky above an urban square in Kassel
The Himmelsstürmer sculpture rises on a long tilted pole above the square near Kassel’s Kulturbahnhof.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0
Man Walking to the Sky sculpture beside a slanted pole with the Hauptbahnhof building in the background.
Man Walking to the Sky stands near Kassel Hauptbahnhof under an overcast sky.
June 2009 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Himmelsstürmer sculpture on a tilted pole against a bright blue sky.
Himmelsstürmer in Kassel rises steeply into the sky on a leaning pole.
June 2015 © · GFDL 1.2
Himmelsstürmer sculpture rising in front of Kassel Hauptbahnhof with the station building in the background.
The Himmelsstürmer sculpture stands in front of Kassel Hauptbahnhof under a clear blue sky.
June 2015 © · GFDL 1.2

Identification

TitleMan walking to the sky
German titleHimmelsstürmer
Ukrainian titleЧоловік, що йде в небо
TypeSculpture

Creator

ArtistJonathan Borofsky
Artist nationalityAmerican

Historical context

Designed fordocumenta IX
Year designed1992

Physical characteristics

Main structure25-meter metal tube, 50 cm in diameter, inclined at 63°
FigureMale figure attached near the beginning of the last third of the tube
Figure clothingPurple T-shirt and yellow trousers

Materials

MaterialsSteel tube and painted fiberglass figure

Appearance

Figure actionWalking upward
SubjectA man walking skyward with confident steps

Location and ownership

Original exhibition locationFriedrichsplatz, Kassel
Current locationIn front of the Kulturbahnhof in Kassel
Temporary relocationPlatz der Deutschen Einheit in the Unterneustadt district
City and countryKassel, Germany
Acquired byCity of Kassel

Discovery and provenance

Production costAbout 70,000 Deutsche Mark
Purchase price690,000 Deutsche Mark
FundingFinanced by donations

History and restoration

Exhibited duringdocumenta IX
Public receptionVery well received by the citizens of Kassel

Iconography and meaning

Citizen interpretationA positive, upward-looking development of the city

Other

Borofsky's view on placementHe thought it would be better in a park on a hill, but understood the desire to place it in a highly frequented part of the city