fwbd3,33, Rote Stadt, Öl auf Leinwand, 40 x 50 cm. Der Augsburger Religionsfrieden liegt schon lange zurück, aber weil ich evangelisch nach Augsburger Bekenntnis bin, verband ich Augsburg in meinen Vorstellungen mit der unsinnigen Idee, in Augsburg wären besonders tolerante Menschen zuhause. Abgesehen davon, dass mir die Stadt auf meinem kurzen Besuch im September 2007 übertrieben geschniegelt vorkam, sind wir auf Schritt und Tritt nur auf Verbotenes und Versperrtes getroffen. Es war unmöglich, mit dem Hund in eines der Lokale hineinzudürfen, aber auch mit den Kaffeehäusern erging es uns so. Auf unserem Weg lag das städtische Schwimmbad, und mir kam plötzlich der Gedanke, vielleicht sind die da alle einfach nur irgendwie verkehrt, und ich fragte hinein, ob wir mit unserem Hund in ihr Büffet einkehren dürften, worauf wir gerade dort, wo alles steril war, nur ja selbstverständlich hörten und wir ganz freundlich mit Kaffee und Kirschkuchen bewirtetet wurden,
fwbd3,33, Small Red Town, oil on canvas, 40 by 50 cm, 2007. If somebody asks me, or if I have to fill in a form where they want to know my confession, I answer that I am a protestant “A. C.”, which means Augsburg Confession. The historical “Religious Peace of Augsburg” dates back more than 500 years. That made me believe – naively – that the citizens of Augsburg would be exceptionally tolerant people. During a short visit in September 2007, however, I did not find any sign of tolerance. Apart from the fact that everything was over-styled in that town, at every turn things were forbidden or closed to us. It was impossible to go into one of the cafés restaurants with my dog. When we passed the local swimming pool I suddenly had the idea that maybe everybody there was just a little bit reversed, and so I asked, if we were allowed to enter the buffet. And just there, where everything was clean and sterile, they said “of course” and “why not” and offered us coffee and cherry cake and treated us in a very friendly way.
fwbd3,33, Piccola città rossa, olio su tela, 40 x 50 cm, 2007.. A causa della pace religiosa di Augusta nell’anno 1555, e siccome io sono protestante in senso della confessione religiosa, pensavo ingenuamente che la gente à Augusta sia più tollerante d’ altrove. A parte che la città mi sembrava troppo azzimata c’ incontravamo le situazioni o vietati o chiusi passo passo. C’ era impossibile di entrare col cane a un ristorante e altrettanto c’ era con le caffè. Per via c’ era il piscino pubblico, e mi veniva l’ idea che la gente lì forse vorrebbe soltanto distinguersi da quella in alte città. E proprio lì dove si aspettasse tutto sterile ci dicono di si, e come no? Erano molto gentile con noi e ci offrono il caffè con dolce di ciglige.
