German Artists Claim Responsibility for the White Flags on the Brooklyn Bridge

German Artists Claim Responsibility for the White Flags on the Brooklyn Bridge

Two artists say they made the flags themselves

Mischa Leinkauf and Matthias Wermke, two artists from Berlin, have come out to claim the flag stunt on top of the Brooklyn Bridge as their own. Although some fear that the act may have been a terrorist attack, the pair said in an interview that it was merely a celebration of “the beauty of public space.” Coincidentally the white flags, which include hand-stitched stars and stripes, appeared the same day that the German-born engineer of the bridge, John Roebling, died in 1869 (July 22).

The artists also submitted a video to the New York Times and pointed to other similar projects they have done, although they were admittedly taken back by the reception in the states.

The video is a short cell phone video taken from what looks to be the top of the bridge. In the distance you can see the Verizon building, and a quick pan up shows one of the white flags.

Leinkauf had the following to say in a statement, “This was not an anti-American statement. From our Berlin background, we were a little surprised that it got the reaction it did. We didn’t really intend to embarrass the police.”

The artists even went so far as to delve some details surrounding their process. They said the action took place between 3 and 5 a.m. on July 22, and they used the same climbing cables that workers and police use to get to the top. They also mentioned that they did not spot any security cameras during their trip up.

About the Author

Matt Holden is an Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media, Inc. He received his MFA and BA in journalism from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He currently writes and edits for Occupational Health & Safety magazine, and Security Today.

Featured

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Unique Oversized ID Card Printer

    Unique Oversized ID Card Printer

    Idesco Corp. is announcing its card printer – the XCR100 2.0 printer- that allows customers to personalize oversized ID cards on demand. The printer is ideal for assisting healthcare organizations find the right badging solution. As healthcare facilities continue to combat the spread of COVID-19, issuing oversized ID cards has helped identify staff clearly while adding an extra layer of security. The XCR100 2.0 printer is the only dye-sublimation printer on the market that can personalize CR100 cards (3.88" x 2.63"). The cards that are 42% larger than the standard credit card size. The printer can produce up to 180 full cards per hour in color, and up to 1,400 cards per hour in monochrome. An optional flipper is available to print dual-sided badges in one pass. Contactless encoding comes as an option to help healthcare facilities produce secure access badges on demand and the card printer features a 2-year warranty. 3

  • Kangaroo Home Security System

    Kangaroo Home Security System

    Kangaroo is the affordable, easy-to-install home security system designed for anyone who wants an added layer of peace of mind and protection. It has several products, ranging from the fan-favorite Doorbell Camera + Chime, to the more comprehensive Front Door Security Kit with Professional Monitoring. Regardless of the level of desired security, Kangaroo’s designed to move with consumers - wherever that next chapter may be. Motion sensors, keypads and additional features can be part of the package to any Kangaroo system in place, anytime. Additionally, Kangaroo offers scalable protection plans with a variety of benefits ranging from 24/7 professional monitoring to expanded cloud storage, coverage for damage and theft. 3

  • Camden Door Controls ‘SER” Surface Boxes and Extension Rings

    Camden Door Controls ‘SER” Surface Boxes and Extension Rings

    Camden Door Controls has introduced new ‘SER” surface boxes and extension rings that provide a complete solution for new construction. In addition, they provide a simple and robust solution when replacing round wired and manual push plate switches with either Camden’s wired or wireless SureWave™ no-touch switches or Kinetic™ no-battery wireless switches. 3