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All Germany Lübeck ‘Datenträger’ (‘Data Carrier’)
AO Edited

‘Datenträger’ (‘Data Carrier’)

Rusted humanoid clutching a laptop and trailing cables.

Lübeck, Germany

Added By
Johan SWE
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Datenträger (Data Carrier).   Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
Datenträger (Data Carrier).   Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
Datenträger (Data Carrier).   Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
Datenträger (Data Carrier).   Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
Datenträger (Data Carrier).   Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
Datenträger (Data Carrier).   Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
Datenträger (Data Carrier).   Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Standing outside an IT company in Lübeck, northern Germany, the rusted figure Datenträger (“Data Carrier”) blends art, technology, the human form, and a touch of whimsy in a unique way. Created in 2012, the over-10-foot (3-meter) cyber-inspired sculpture depicts a man holding a laptop in one hand and a bundle of cables in the other.

Self-taught local sculptor Claus Görtz built the piece from shredded and welded iron plates. The rough texture of the figure gives it a pixelated look, reminiscent of the early days of computer graphics. In contrast, the face is more detailed, cast in iron, which adds an element of realism amid the abstract design.

In German, the term Datenträger usually refers to physical devices that store data, like USB sticks, hard discs or CDs, but can also include older analog forms like VHS or cassette tapes. Görtz takes this literal definition to an imaginative extreme, personifying a “data carrier” in the form of a walking human-machine hybrid.

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Art Outside Technology Sculptures

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Always on display and ready for you to connect with at any time, this sculpture is located outside the JS|com IT-Systemhaus in the modern part of the city, south of the Old Town. Street parking is available nearby, and several buses stop just a short walk away. It’s about a half-hour walk from the railway station.

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Added By

Johan SWE

Published

February 20, 2025

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Sources
  • https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datentr%C3%A4ger
  • https://sh-kunst.de/claus-goertz-datentraeger
‘Datenträger’ (‘Data Carrier’)
49A Kronsforder Allee
Lübeck, 23560
Germany
53.851066, 10.687787
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