Niki de Saint Phalle

Hannover is Niki-City! She is the creator of the world famous Nanas and the first and so far only person to be given the freedom of the city of Hannover - Niki de Saint Phalle, who died on 21st May 2002 in San Diego. She enjoyed a thirty year friendship with the city of Hannover - you will meet the works and the name of this great artist everywhere you go in the city.

Niki de Saint Phalle had one of her first big exhibitions at the Sprengel Museum in Hannover. The museum documents her life through the swinging sixties with 120 works from the Niki de Saint Phalle endowment. There are three voluminous polyester Nanas on the banks of the Leine – their installation in 1974 unleashed a storm of protest from some Hannoverians, but it also started up a lively discussion about art in public spaces. Since then, the Nanas have become a symbol of the city and are very popular with most Hannoverians.

Niki grotto in the Herrenhausen Gardens

The grotto in the Herrenhausen Gardens is a must for Niki fans. Since autumn 2002, a fascinating magical world of mirror and glass mosaics and colourful polyester figures seduce the visitor. The two outer rooms, fitted out with mirrors and blue glass, symbolise the contrasts of day and night, life and the cosmos. Niki de Saint Phalle died one year before the completion of the impressive grotto in the Royal Garden. The grotto in Herrenhausen was the artist's last major project.

Visiting groups can now admire all of Niki's works in the Sprengel Museum, on the banks of the Leine and in the Herrenhausen Gardens on a themed bus tour. And afterwards, you can enjoy a shopping trip through the Niki de Saint Phalle promenade in Hannover city centre.

• http://www.hannover.de/lang/en/index.html

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