The sculpture shows a human body in the shape of a crucifix resting on an oversized hand. The hand, formed from bark and cast in bronze, symbolizes protection and security. The human figure is anchored on the inside of the bark, where the cambium – the layer of growth and vitality of the tree – lies. In this way, the connection between life and mercy as a protective force is made artistically tangible through the human being. Dietrich Klinge chose a wall of the hospital in Dinkelsbühl as the location for this work, referring to the origins of the hospital as a place where mercy is lived – a space where care, healing and humanity meet.



The sculpture illustrates the existential principle of mercy for being human. The protective hand, sculpted from bark and cast in bronze, stands for security and care. The human figure is anchored in its interior, where the cambium – the layer of growth and vitality – lies. This makes it clear that mercy not only means protection, but is also the essence of life itself – a force that supports and sustains the human condition.