12The Balance Act

2009The “Mauerläufer” is officially titled “Balance Act”. It was created by artist Stephan Balkenhol to mark the 50th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone for the Berlin publishing house and the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which once stood just twelve meters from Axel Springer’s headquarters. The bronze sculpture was unveiled in 2009 at the former border between East Berlin and the free western part of the city. It is a reminder of how fragile freedom is – and what a balancing act it remains to preserve it, including in times of democracy.