As part of our international and interdisciplinary workshop "Training Creative Acts and Action" in September 2025, artist Nina Nielebock gilded the handrail of a pedestrian and car bridge on Wittenburger Straße in the center of Schwerin with gold leaf. Schwerin thus became part of an ongoing art project that has previously taken place in cities such as Erfurt and Mannheim.
Goldbrücke (Golden Bridge) is a site-specific, participatory art intervention that explores public space as a material, social, and symbolic field. During the gilding process, the artist engages directly with passers-by, creating spontaneous conversations that become an integral part of the work itself.
In Schwerin, Nielebock initiated these conversations around the workshop’s central theme, asking: “What does freedom mean to you?” The openness and simplicity of the question—without predetermined political framing—allow for a wide range of responses, from reflections on personal happiness to complex discussions about connection, division, responsibility, and community. Enduring moments of frustration or confrontation—whether touching on racism, sexism, or classism—is as much part of the work as practicing acts of care. The gilding of the bridge, as a positively connoted gesture, creates a resonant space that holds these contradictions together.
The bridge, as a symbol of what lies between people—and of the possibility of transforming this in-between into something productive and lasting—is central to Nina Nielebock’s artistic approach. The gold layer remains visible for several years, depending on environmental and weather conditions. Goldbrücke thus operates within the field of tension between conceptual and action art, as well as social sculpture. A small plaque marks the work and links via QR code to further information.
The realization of the Schwerin Goldbrücke was supported by the GUI | IUG.
Further information about the project can be found on the artist’s website:
Atelier Nina Nielebock
Nina Nielebock is an artist specializing in sculpture and performance in public space. In her art, she deals with contemporary politics and explores their impact on society in participatory performances. She studies under Sam Durant at the Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design. Nina Nielebock also works as an art educator, organizes discussions at the interface of art and politics and organizes group exhibitions.