Friede sei mit Dir

Overall view of the sculpture

The relief sculpture Friede sei mit Dir ("Peace be with you" or "Friede be with you"),^[1] also known as the cock of Berlin^[2][3] is a work of art by sculptor Peter Lenk. It is located in Berlin at the building of the editorial staff of German newspaper taz.

The sculpture displays living persons, who were involuntarily used in controversial headlines by newspaper Bild-Zeitung. The five floor stretched main part of the caricature represents Bild-chief-editor Kai Diekmann. The top floor title "Friede sei mit dir" refers to Friede Springer, publisher of Bild-Zeitung, who is depicted on the left-hand side of the fourth floor facade, performing the function of a snake-charmer.

The prehistory of the sculpture was a satirical article and the following lawsuit (2002). Journalist Gerhard Henschel in an satirical article had claimed Kai Diekmann had undergone a failed medical enhancement operation. Kai Dieckmann in his personal rights case unsuccessfully sued for damages. The court held, that the claimant in his function as chief editor of Bild had willingly decided to become an actor in a personal rights infringing business, from which he was profiting economically. Therefore he would not be entitled to maximum protection against infringement of his own personal rights.^[4][5]

The sculpture itself was installed in 2009 and remains legally unchallenged.

References

1. peter-lenk.de (German language)
2. ftd.de (German language)
3. rp-online.de (German language)
4. ""taz" mahnt Diekmann wegen Penissache ab". Retrieved 18 April 2012.
5. "taz, Auszug aus dem Urteil des Landgerichts Berlin zum Penis-Prozess". Retrieved 18 April 2012.

Coordinates: 52°30′24″N 13°23′30″E / 52.5066°N 13.3917°E