So here we do have another proof of how valuable it is to have a digital 3D model of a sculpture, especially when the latter is located in public.
This beautiful cast-stone sculpture called “Elegie” by Belorussian-Berlinian artist Evgenia Usimova has been 3D scanned by us in the spring of 2024. It is located in Berlin-Hohenschönhausen near DHM’s headquarters, and it is the successor of a bronze sculpture which went by the name of “Sommer” by Siegfried Krepp which had been stolen by metal thieves in 2013. Elegie was put on Sommer’s remaining socket as a replacement, encouraged and sponsored by the “Förderverein Obersee & Orankesee” in 2015.
Now, in 2026, at some time since then, poor Elegie has been severely damaged by iconoclasts. Seemingly this must have involved quite an amount of utterly brutal violence; however, while on one hand cast stone will prevent such a sculpture from being stolen by metal thieves, on the other it is for sure easier to be damaged than bronze is.
But luckily, since Digital Heritage Minds has an accurate and true to size 3D model of Elegie, we already imagine a way of how to restore this beautiful sculpture. So, it’s now time to get in touch with the parks and gardens department and/or the Förderverein in order to offer this!