China gifts birthplace town of Marx a statue
A massive statue of the founding father of communism has been erected in his birthplace, after the southern German city of Trier decided to accept the bronze sculpture from China.
The threetonne Karl Marx statue was erected ahead of the 200th birthday of the influential thinker and philosopher on May 5, when it will be unveiled.
“Karl Marx is Trier’s most famous son,” said city official Andreas Ludwig.
It depicts a thoughtful but towering Marx, who stands tall at over 5m including the sculpture’s base, holding a book in one hand.
The 19th century thinker spent the first 17 years of his life in Trier near the Luxembourg border.
The city council voted in favour of accepting the gift from the Chinese government by 42 members to seven in March 2017, but the statue has divided opinion.
Some see it as final recognition of Trier’s most famous resident.
“People have predominantly welcomed the gift,” said Michael Thielen, who is one of two Karl Marx impersonators at the opening.
Others worry that accepting the gift from China is not compatible with criticising the country’s human rights abuses.
The Chinese artist behind the bronze statue, Wu Weishan, had previously suggested that it should be placed at the Porta Nigra, an iconic Trier landmark and one of the largest Roman gates north of the Alps.
The statue was erected in the end by Simeonstiftsplatz, in the heart of the southern German city.
Marx’s status in Germany is controversial, with some in the country blaming the philosopher’s ideas for the rise of Communist dictators, the Berlin Wall and subsequent Cold War division. — Reuters