Hamburg celebrates 30th anniversary of twinning with Chicago

22 November 2024

HamburgAmbassadors hold "Hamburg Tree Art" to mark date

Artist Franziska Seifert has transformed a dying tree on the Outer Lake Alster into a temporary work of art to mark the 30th anniversary of the city's twinning with Chicago. Launched as part of the "Hamburg Tree Art" competition, the project was initiated by HamburgAmbassadors in co-operation with Chicago and co-ordinated by Hamburg Marketing. The 30-year partnership has led to exchanges between businesses, ministries, schools and universities, as well as athletes and artists.

Two embracing trees

"The HamburgAmbassadors scheme shows how art in particular can invigorate and deepen our partnerships," said Rolf Strittmatter, CEO of Hamburg Marketing GmbH. Seifert, winner of the creative competition "Hamburg Tree Art", created the sculpture "Two Character Trunks in an Embrace" in an oak park near Lake Alster. The torso of a 250-year-old oak tree comes together with a frangipani trunk from overseas to symbolise geographical distance and the close ties between Hamburg and Chicago.

Hamburg now a vibrant, international cultural centre

In 2014, Chicago launched the "Chicago Tree Sculpture Project" with Hamburg-Ambassador Christoph Lichtenfeld. The City of Hamburg is continuing this project and highlighting the artistic transformation of dying trees on the 30th anniversary of the partnership. "The close links with Chicago boost cultural relations and positions Hamburg as a vibrant cultural centre on the international stage," Strittmatter pointed out.
fw/mm/pb

Sources and further information

bildhauerin-franziska-seifert.de

HamburgAmbassadors

Launched in 2011, the international Hamburg Ambassadors network is unique in Germany in terms of structure. The ambassadors hold honorary positions to which they are appointed by the Mayor of Hamburg. The threads of the network come together at Hamburg Marketing GmbH, which organizes and co-ordinates the scheme.