"Wishes for Monheim" consists of six mirrored "Mirror Balloons" that have found a more or less prolonged home under the ceiling of the Monheim City Council Chamber. The colors of the balloons were inspired by the city coat of arms by the Danish artist living in Berlin. In the council chamber, as Mayor Daniel Zimmermann stated during the inauguration of the artwork, "it's about dreams, visions, and wishes for our city. And the title of the work 'Wishes for Monheim' captures that in a wonderful way."
For Jeppe Hein, the encouraging balloons are also associated with personal memories. In 2009, the internationally celebrated artist experienced a burnout that largely paralyzed his creativity for two years. "The balloon has a special significance for me because I discovered it during that time," says Hein. "It symbolizes lightness and happiness for me. And especially when you are sick, you have the wish to get better, to send something back into the world and to be able to take off again."
