Blind Chicken Made of Sand - New Sculptures Emerging on Rügen - Rügen’s Glaspalast Transforms Sand into Towering Wisdom-Themed Sculptures
A new sand sculpture exhibition is taking shape in Prora’s Glaspalast on the island of Rügen. This year’s theme, Wisdom and Sayings, will feature towering works with titles like Raw Deal and Even a Blind Hen Finds a Grain Now and Then. Organisers expect the display to be ready by January 31, 2023.
The event marks the 17th sand sculpture exhibition in Rügen. Around 25 artists are crafting the intricate pieces, supported by a dozen technicians who compact the sand and lay the foundations. Some sculptures will rise several metres high, including Small Livestock Makes a Mess Too.
The sand itself is recycled from last year’s exhibition, mixed with freshly quarried, sharp-edged material from a local gravel pit. Martin de Zoete, the artistic director, called the process truly backbreaking—a nod to the physical effort behind each piece. Last year’s event drew over 120,000 visitors, and organisers hope for similar interest this time.
The exhibition will open once all sculptures are complete. Visitors can explore the detailed works, each inspired by well-known sayings. The team behind the project has spent months preparing the site and shaping the sand into striking, large-scale art.
