May 30, 2026, 12:32 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
In the Ruhr area metropolis of Duisburg, an unusual sculpture has stood since 2011, gaining fame far beyond Germany’s borders. At first glance, the work Tiger & Turtle – Magic Mountain resembles a roller coaster. And you can explore it on foot. TRAVELBOOK spoke with artist Heike Mutter, who developed the work with her colleague Ulrich Genth, about its significance for her and the region.
Visitors to Heinrich-Hildebrand-Höhe in Duisburg might feel a sense of déjà vu. The massive sculpture there is familiar even to those who have never visited the Ruhr metropolis. Since its opening, Tiger & Turtle – Magic Mountain, as the artwork is called, has appeared on Windows screensavers, magazine covers, and calendars. The walkable figure, which initially resembles a roller coaster, is so well-known and beloved that it can be considered an unofficial landmark of Duisburg. From the top, you not only get a view of the landscape but also the city’s history.
Measuring 44 by 37 meters and with a maximum construction height of 21 meters, Tiger & Turtle – Magic Mountain is, according to the official website of artist duo Heike Mutter and Ulrich Genth, the largest sculpture in Germany. Since its opening in November 2011, it has literally towered over Heinrich-Hildebrand-Höhe, part of the so-called Angerpark, which itself rises 50 meters above sea level. During the day, you can enjoy a spectacular view, and at night, the artwork transforms into a unique illuminated object thanks to hundreds of LED lights. But what is the story behind this unusual metal giant?
Need for Leisure
“I alone could probably give you five different interpretations of what Tiger & Turtle – Magic Mountain is supposed to mean,” said Heike Mutter in response to a TRAVELBOOK inquiry. “The media often writes that the tiger represents speed and the turtle represents slowness. But that’s actually too simplistic.” It all began when the city of Essen and the Ruhr area were named the European Capital of Culture in 2006. At that time, Mutter and Genth lived as artists in Duisburg thanks to a scholarship. “This included both an apartment and a studio, which was located directly on the grounds of the Krupp-Mannesmann steelworks. We continued to use the studio for many years, even after we had long since moved back to Cologne.” Here, Mutter and Genth came into contact with the typical Ruhr area industry and the people who worked in it.
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In 2005, the metalworks filed for bankruptcy. “During our scholarship period, we were directly confronted with the events on the ‘neighboring grounds.’ In Duisburg, you can clearly see the connection between work and leisure life. For example, the basins of the Sechs-Seen-Platte were created through gravel mining in the early 20th century as part of industrial development. In the 1960s, the area was reclaimed and is now a very popular local recreation area. In the 1990s, the CentrO (now Westfield Centro) in Oberhausen was built on an industrial wasteland, considered the largest shopping and leisure center in Europe. There are also ski halls and amusement parks—all offerings that show how much leisure today is linked to mass consumption and the economy. Typically, all offerings advertise with promises of superlatives to attract visitors.”
A Work for Decades
Mutter sees Tiger & Turtle – Magic Mountain as a counterpoint to this. She and Genth won a 2009 competition by the city of Duisburg to design a sculpture for Heinrich-Hildebrand-Höhe. Their concept of a walkable artwork, Tiger & Turtle – Magic Mountain, impressed the jury. And so, on November 13, 2011, the unique artwork was finally opened. “Everyone knows the image of a roller coaster. But we want people walking on the sculpture to think for themselves.”
Nevertheless, Tiger & Turtle – Magic Mountain undeniably resembles a roller coaster at first glance. This is due to the wild swings and curves of the metal construction. There’s even a loop. Unfortunately, due to the laws of gravity, it is naturally not walkable. Visitors can explore the unique artwork on foot over 220 meters and 349 steps. “We wanted to create something that looks like a great experience. And perhaps even evokes childhood memories in people. Still, we want people walking on the sculpture to think for themselves. Fortunately, this has worked wonderfully from the start. The sculpture was very well received.”
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Although the two had previously realized projects, “This was our first artwork where it was clear it would stand there for the next 30 to 40 years. It’s all the more beautiful that we still identify with it today.” A special aspect for Mutter about her work is the diversity with which visitors can perceive it. “This can happen intellectually, but also physically through walking.” For the two artists, Tiger & Turtle – Magic Mountain was not the only sculpture of this kind they realized. Since 2021, a similar artwork titled SpaceWalk has stood in the South Korean city of Pohang. Those who want to visit the “original” in Duisburg have the opportunity to do so free of charge at any time throughout the year.