Peter-Lenk-Brunnen: Satire in Stone in Konstanz

The intricate details of the Peter-Lenk-Brunnen sculpture are visible right from the street edge on Untere Laube. In the middle of a busy boulevard stands a massive concrete arch where winged cherubs wear gas masks to survive the traffic. This immediate visual introduces the monument's defining theme of "Autowahn" (automobile obsession) and draws attention to its provocative, satirical style.

A Concrete Satire

Created by sculptor Peter Lenk between 1991 and 1992, the monument is officially known as the Konstanzer Triumphbogen. The cast concrete structure measures roughly 8.2 to 9 meters high and 13 meters wide. It incorporates active fountain basins and water jets, providing a splashing acoustic contrast to the constant backdrop of passing boulevard traffic.

The artwork is a biting social satire comprising over 30 distinct sculptural figures and dense narrative reliefs. Alongside its commentary on vehicle emissions, the fountain openly mocks social hierarchy and ecclesiastical authority.

Controversial History

The fountain's location on Untere Laube was intentional. Historically, the boulevard served as a heavy-traffic transit artery connecting Konstanz to the Swiss border.

Upon its unveiling in the early 1990s, the monument sparked intense public arguments. Local newspapers and conservative residents heavily debated the overt nudity, grotesque caricatures, and clear mockery of authority figures. Over time, the controversies faded, and the Triumphbogen evolved into an accepted and prominent civic landmark.

Caricatures and Curiosities

The monument is packed with miniature narrative reliefs cast along the arch pillars and basin rims. One striking visual contrast highlights the evolution of papal transport, placing a medieval papal carriage directly next to a modern Popemobile.

Other overdrawn caricatures target modern road rage, depicting aggressive drivers frantically gripping their steering wheels. The reliefs also feature stoic monkeys, spitting gargoyles, grim historical figures, and human "aardvarks" ogling a reclining nude figure.

A Tradition of Public Art

Today, the Peter-Lenk-Brunnen serves as a permanent open-air public art station along the SeeKunstweg cultural route. It stands as a standard landmark located between the Old Town and the harbour.

The monument forms part of Konstanz's distinctive tradition of displaying provocative, satirical figurative fountains in prominent public thoroughfares. It shares this civic legacy with Peter Lenk's famous Imperia statue at the harbor and Gernot Rumpf's Kaiserbrunnen on the Marktstätte.