"Papagena im Wind (Papagena in the Wind)" by Klaus Wolf Simon - In the Kunstscheune Steinhude

“Papagena im Wind” by Klaus Wolf Simon captures the elemental spirit of the Steinhuder Meer in a form both poetic and powerful. The sculpture, inspired by the dynamic force of the wind, evokes the sensation of air in motion – gusts that touch, swirl and embrace an invisible figure. Originally installed in 2008 by the Steinhuder Meer Tourismus GmbH with support from the Foundation of the Lower Saxon Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken, the work stood in the waters along the lakeside promenade, where light and breeze shaped its living dialogue with nature. After years of exposure to the elements that had inspired it, the statue suffered weather damage and has since found a sheltered home within the Kunstscheune in Steinhude. Here, especially in winter, when silence lies over the lake and the wind hums through the frozen reeds, “Papagena im Wind” reveals a new dimension. Its graceful lines and movement seem to carry the memory of the lake’s storms and the calm that follows them. Within the warm ambience of the Kunstscheune, the sculpture becomes a meeting point between art and nature – a reflection of resilience, transformation and the poetry of northern landscapes. It remains a captivating destination for visitors seeking both artistic inspiration and a sense of tranquillity during the serene winter months at Steinhuder Meer.