A striking new public art installation has appeared on the waters of Kiel's Hörn Bay, featuring bright white tetrapods floating on the surface in an otherworldly display. The interactive artwork, titled 'Bycatch,' consists of concrete wave-breaker structures held together by a vibrant green fishing net, creating what appears to be an alien catch floating on the water.
The installation is the work of artist duo Abie Franklin and Daniel Hölzl, both 2022 graduates of the Berlin-Weißensee Art Academy. The artists deliberately chose the name 'Bycatch' - a fishing term referring to unintended catch - to reflect the complex themes their work explores. One tetrapod has broken free from the main cluster and appears to be swimming toward the Hörn bridge on a long tether, adding a playful element to the serious environmental commentary.
'We want to make phenomena like tides, currents, and wind tangible and experiential,' explained Abie Franklin, who installed the water landscape with a crew member on the morning it debuted. The project represents a public art initiative commissioned and funded by the city's Art Advisory Board.
Peter Kruska, chairman of the Art Advisory Board and director of the Municipal Gallery, praised both the artists' approach and the playful nature of their work. 'The artists are taking their project directly into society,' Kruska noted, highlighting the interactive and accessible nature of the installation.
The Hörn Bay has proven to be an ideal location for this floating art piece. Beyond the obvious visual impact of the tetrapods, Franklin and Hölzl are interested in exploring the 'bycatch' of questions and contradictions that their work raises. The artists point out the inherent paradox in these creature-like concrete structures: while they function as environmental protection along coastlines, their production also generates significant environmental pollution through CO₂ emissions.
Franklin reflects on another fascinating aspect of tetrapods: 'How is it that these abstract forms have become collective property?' He shares that in Japan, tetrapods have achieved cult status - they're even manufactured as plush toys, demonstrating how these utilitarian objects have transcended their original purpose to become cultural icons.
Since summer 2023, Franklin and Hölzl have exhibited 'Bycatch' at approximately 15 different locations. The installation has traveled across Denmark from Haderslev to Fredericia, appeared on Berlin's Spree River, and was displayed in Nuremberg. Some of the total 30 elements are currently incorporated into installations in Chemnitz, which serves as a European Capital of Culture. The air-filled structures were manufactured by the Lübeck-based company GEO - die Luftwerker, a team that has previously collaborated on major projects by renowned artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
The interactive nature of the installation is central to the artists' vision. Visitors are explicitly encouraged to climb, balance, and play on the floating tetrapods, which occupy a unique space between playground equipment, climbing park, and sculpture. On July 31 at 3 PM, Franklin and Hölzl will host a special session inviting the public to try out their installation firsthand.
The artwork will remain accessible to visitors daily from 12 PM to 8 PM through Sunday, August 3. Incorporating public participation is crucial to Franklin's artistic philosophy: 'We are always searching for alternative pathways for art,' he emphasized, reflecting the duo's commitment to creating art that breaks down traditional barriers between artwork and audience.
The installation transforms the familiar Hörn waterfront into an unexpected landscape of interaction and contemplation, where visitors can literally engage with questions about environmental protection, industrial design, and the relationship between human-made structures and natural forces. The bright white tetrapods against Kiel's water create a visually stunning contrast while inviting deeper reflection on humanity's complex relationship with coastal environments and climate protection measures.
