A massive 90-square-meter mural featuring enlarged hands of a Prussian princess was unveiled in Schwerin, Germany, while local authorities investigate an attack on political party offices and the city prepares for its annual dragon boat festival. These developments highlight the diverse cultural and political activities taking place in the historic German city.
Local artist Tino Bittner has completed the second installation in his monumental "Allerhand" (All Hands) series, depicting the dramatically enlarged hands of Prussian Princess Alexandrine of Schwerin against a pixelated background. The artwork, based on a 19th-century painting housed in Schwerin's State Museums, now covers an entire building facade on Glaisinstraße. Bittner, born in 1975, aims to bring art from museums into everyday life, with his hand motifs becoming an integral part of Schwerin's urban landscape.
The ambitious project was made possible through donations from countless Schwerin residents, with each mural costing approximately 30,000 euros primarily for paints, scaffolding, and lift equipment. The first completed hand mural is located at Schlachtermarkt, while a third installation is currently underway on nearby Grüne Straße, though it still requires 17,000 euros in funding to complete. These community-funded artworks represent a unique collaboration between the artist and local citizens.
Meanwhile, law enforcement is investigating an attack on political party offices in the city. A known individual allegedly destroyed signs belonging to the Left Party and Green Party parliamentary factions using a café chair during the night before Monday. A resident witnessed the man attacking the signs outside a building entrance. Police have informed state security services and are investigating whether the incident was politically motivated.
This attack reflects a concerning trend of increasing violence against politicians and their offices throughout Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state. Recent incidents include a physical assault on Left Party parliamentarian Michael Noetzel in Güstrow, threats made against Green Party politician Sebastian Hüller at his residence in Grevesmühlen, and repeated vandalism targeting the local AfD (Alternative for Germany) party office in Schwerin.
On a more positive note, Schwerin's cultural scene continues to thrive with the conclusion of a highly successful historical exhibition. "Schwerin - City of the Grand Dukes" attracted 5,000 visitors since its March opening, with the accompanying catalog completely sold out. The exhibition, housed in a vacant retail space on Puschkinstraße, featured historical city views and private photographs of the grand ducal family, curated by Dr. Jakob Schwichtenberg who researched collections from numerous archives.
One of the exhibition's highlights included rare 1865 photographs showing views from Jägerhof toward the city, capturing Schwerin Cathedral before its distinctive 117.5-meter tower was constructed in 1892. The overwhelming public response demonstrates strong community interest in the city's royal heritage and architectural evolution.
The city is now preparing for its annual dragon boat festival on Pfaffenteich lake, scheduled for August 22-24. Organizers expect 95 teams from Germany and abroad, bringing approximately 2,500 athletes to compete in various distance races. The festival program includes Friday and Saturday evening parties, a children's play area, and culminates with a spectacular fireworks display at 10:45 PM on Saturday evening, which has become a beloved tradition among Schwerin residents.
In architectural news, Berlin-based architectural firm Jan Wiese has won the competition to design Schwerin's new city history museum. Mayor Rico Badenschier of the Social Democratic Party expressed confidence that this design represents the best solution for the project. The city administration launched the architectural competition in spring for rebuilding the museum, which has been closed for 20 years, receiving 121 submissions for the nine-member jury to evaluate.
While numerous design proposals remain on display at Schwerin's Cultural Forum until August 31, city officials are now moving forward with detailed planning phases. They will seek grant funding and obtain credit approvals to realize the project by 2027-2028, marking a significant step toward restoring this important cultural institution to serve the community once again.
