At first glance, the non-descript grey building at 24 Alter Markt is much like any other non-descript grey building. Except for one thing. At the very top, jutting out from an iron rod, squats a statue of a young man with his pants around his ankles, by all appearances responding to a call of nature. Questionable taste in art? Legend has it that a poet, who lived on the uppermost floor of this building, was in love with one of his neighbours. The problem was that another occupant was also trying to woo the same woman with his musical talents. Jealous and driven mad by the racket, the poet had the idea of plugging the neighbour’s instrument, in whatever way he could. That certainly deserved a statue, which was created by the sculptor Ewald Mataré in 1956. 24 Alter Markt.
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