Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Borneo orangutan
Malaysia • 12 days, 11 nights
Wild Borneo: Secrets of an Ancient Rainforest
from
Pastel de nata
Portugal • 8 days, 7 nights
Portugal: A Culinary Adventure from Porto to Lisbon
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Ana de Mendoza y de la Cerda, Princess of Éboli, was imprisoned for six months in the tower.
Torreón de Pinto (Tower of Pinto)
Rococo staircase to the musicians’s gallery.
Biscari Palace
Statues of Qin Hui and Lady Wang.
Qin Hui Statue at Yue Fei Temple
The Salt Canyon.
Salt Canyon
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
 Fenway Park at night
How Was Your First Trip With Your Significant Other?
about 16 hours ago
Ivan the Terra Bus
The Bus, the Myth, the Legend: Ivan the Terra Bus
2 days ago
Pigeons were included in a series of 1891 illustrations entitled “Household Pets.”
What Makes a Pest a Pest?
3 days ago
Burros Alfa and Beto, seen here with Luis Soriano in 2008, have been helping the teacher deliver books for more than 20 years.
How One Man and His ‘Biblioburro’ Spreads Literacy in Rural Colombia
5 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Germany Cologne Listening to the Future
Listening to the Future is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

Listening to the Future

Residing along a busy thoroughfare, this sculpture urges passersby to consider the future.

Cologne, Germany

Added By
Ric Bixter
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Listening to the Future   ricbixter / Atlas Obscura User
Listening to the Future   ricbixter / Atlas Obscura User
Listening to the Future   ricbixter / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

This Place Is a Stub

Help improve this place with additional information or photos.

Make an Edit

About

This unusual sculpture, created in 2004 by German artist Michael Schwarze, stands out amidst the hustle and bustle of the city center. The piece resides just outside the art boutique, Kunsthandlung Goyert. This isn't the only sculpture by Schwarze that can be found around the city. Several of his creations, many abstract and featuring exaggerated hands, feet, and other extremities are located in various corners of Köln. 

Related Tags

Sculptures

Community Contributors

Added By

ricbixter

Edited By

Simpluree, yellingBytes, annebelleo

  • Simpluree
  • yellingBytes
  • annebelleo

Published

September 17, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Listening to the Future
17 Chlodwigpl.
Cologne, 50667
Germany
50.921716, 6.959048
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Secret Grave in the Pylon of Severinsbrücke Bridge

Cologne, Germany

miles away

Tünnes und Schäl

Cologne, Germany

miles away

Papa Joe's Biersalon Klimperkasten

Cologne, Germany

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Cologne

Cologne

Germany

Places 12

Nearby Places

Secret Grave in the Pylon of Severinsbrücke Bridge

Cologne, Germany

miles away

Tünnes und Schäl

Cologne, Germany

miles away

Papa Joe's Biersalon Klimperkasten

Cologne, Germany

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Cologne

Cologne

Germany

Places 12

Related Places

  • “Sleeping Figure” stretches 150 feet end to end.

    Marfa, Texas

    ‘Sleeping Figure’

    Twelve decommissioned shipping containers evoke a reclining person in Marfa, Texas.

  • “Gold Lamé” by Tony Heaton on display in 2018.

    Liverpool, England

    Liverpool Plinth

    A plinth outside a church displays sculptures by local artists.

  • Bronze sculpture of a cow and a newborn calf, Toledo, Iowa

    Toledo, Iowa

    Butter Cow Statue

    Bronze sculpture paying homage to Norma “Duffy” Lyon, famous for creating a life-size cow made of butter at the state fair.

  • Stonehaven, Scotland

    Stonehaven Boardwalk Sculptures

    A series of mysterious metal artwork adorn this harbor walkway.

  • Chiayi City, Taiwan

    Manneken Pis of Taiwan

    A replica of Brussels’ Manneken Pis has stood in Taiwan since 1934.

  • Durham, England

    ‘Cry for Justice – The Scream’

    A Munch-inspired sculpture brings the despair of war to life.

  • Aguanga, California

    Ricardo Breceda’s Art Gallery

    Large metal sculptures spread throughout an open landscape.

  • La Louvière, Belgium

    ‘La Grande Assiette Brisée’ (‘The Large Broken Plate’)

    This surprising work of art reminds us that La Louvière was once home to one of Europe’s most famous stoneware factories.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.