The everyday people

Exhibition by Christel & Laura Lechner

For several years now, the everyday people created by artists Laura & Christel Lechner from Wenningstedt-Braderup have become an integral part of the town. These friendly characters can be found at various locations throughout the town, encouraging interaction and sure to bring a smile to your face.

They perform alone, with a dog or in groups, wearing suits, swimming shorts or leather jackets. Whether socializing on sofas, gazing at the sky alone, or talking shop with a partner: Christel and Laura Lechner's everyday people surprise visitors at various locations in Wenningstedt-Braderup and bring smiles to many faces. Some everyday people now live permanently on Sylt: the three surfers on the southern promenade, two swimmers at the village pond, or the "lady in yellow" at the beach crossing on Berthin-Bleeg-Straße. The two showering men and the man with binoculars on the main steps have also become native residents of Wenningstedt-Braderup.

New figures are added to the permanent exhibition each season. In recent years, a polonaise (2019), an inviting table scene (2020), the Couch Zone (2021), the photo group (2022), the boules game (2023) and the girls' night (2024) on the lawn in front of the kursaal³ have provided many holiday snapshots.

The focus of the 2025 exhibition is the installation "Dancing on the Beach"Fifteen figures dance joyfully and exuberantly beneath strings of lights – sometimes as a couple, sometimes all by themselves. "The installation is celebrating its premiere in Wenningstedt-Braderup," says Laura Lechner, who has been working on the women at Atelier Lechnerhof for the past few months. "It's so beautiful to see how well they fit into this space!" Almost perfectly, in fact: When the sun sets behind the figures and music and joyful laughter echo across the promenade, you really just want to join in the dance!

Tourism Director Henning Sieverts is pleased with the everyday people:

“The figures invite you to take photos with everyday people - and that is what is intended.

For me, the charm of these everyday people lies in precisely this interaction with the characters," says Henning Sieverts. "It's always wonderful to see how much joy the characters bring to our guests and Sylt residents," he adds.

The everyday people are installed not only on Sylt, but at various locations throughout Germany. Their positioning everywhere underscores the claim to normality: The sculptures are approachable – they invite you to walk around them, touch them, or simply contemplate them in peace.