The proposal for the Europaplatz in Recklinghausen drafts an approx. 10 metre (33 ft) long model ship inaccessibly residing in the midst of a water expanse.

It quotes the Europa, the most advanced high-speed steam turbine ocean vessel in the 20s, that was built just before the National Socialists’ seizure of Germany.

The model simultaneously shows all the states and usages of the historic original. One long side is painted in the fragmenting razzle-dazzle war camouflage, the other side in the French paint as Liberté the way the ship looked till her scrapping in the 60s.

The model is firmly mounted on the water expanse. You can see the wave motion and fairway on bow and stern, which is simulated by a well pump.

The Europa:

The Europa was built in Germany during the global economic crisis in the 20s and experienced a significant history of glamour and catastrophes, as well as numerous conversions of use and dedication.

Already when she made her maiden voyage she won the “Blue Riband” for the fastest crossing time of the Atlantic. In the beginning of World War II she was reconverted in the operation “Sea Lion” for troop transports and equipped with military camouflage. She survived the war more or less unharmed. After 1945 the Europa was annexed  by the States and renamed USS Europa and used as troop transport. Later on, she was given to France as war prize, after an accident she collided and sank, she was again repaired and ran under the name Liberté in transatlantic trade.

© 2014 Heike Mutter / Ulrich Genth

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