China’s gift, a three-tonne statue of communism icon Karl Marx gets a mixed reception in Germany
The five-metre-tall bronze figure was erected ahead of the 200th birthday of the influential thinker and philosopher on May 5, when it will be unveiled
A massive statue of the founding father of communism was erected in his birthplace on Friday, after the southern German city of Trier decided to accept the bronze sculpture from China despite concerns over the country’s human rights record.
The three-tonne 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,” city official Andreas Ludwig told Reuters on Friday.
It depicts a thoughtful but towering Marx, who stands at over five metres tall 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 in March 2017, but the statue has divided opinion.
Some see it as final recognition of Trier’s most famous resident.