The German equivalent of Asterix, is a “statue” made of sandstone and copper. Situated on a hill in the woods under the smoke of Detmold, in Germany, Hermann the Brave, stands with his sword raised fearlessly into the air. This courageous German warrior faced the Roman Legions and defeated them through his sheer desire and drove them back from the Teutoburger Wald to far beneath the river Rhine. Hermann, only protecting his possessions, grew to become a symbol of German stubbornness. Abused and highly praised by many nationalistic movements. In my opinion, Hermann, is a robust garden gnome with a sword, who used it, justifiably, against the strange Roman occupiers – nothing more and nothing less.  He is an empty headed statue which only serves to remind us of the  legendary battle.  Envision a “brain” for him, an occupant for his hollow scull in the person of a extraordinary wise snow owl, Theofilius, a bird that, just like the cuckoo in the clock, flies in and out the holes in Hermann’s statue head at night.  An owl who you can talk to in your dreams and ask anything you wish. And if you listen very carefully, you will clearly hear his answers in the middle of the night. For example, I recently asked him: “Do you know where my reading glasses are?”. I know for a fact that he answered, “In the mirror”.

Co-workers on this fairy tale:
Edith Leerkes, Michiel Kerbosch, Max Douw, Karin Hougaard, Nina de la Croix, Hein Offermans, Jaconell Mouton and the Harlekijn Danstheater.