By Sabine Klier
Uwe Wagner (68) from Lichterfelde first thought of “hidden camera” when he was supposed to pick up a painting that had been stolen from the evidence room. Because on Thursday the employee there told him that it had already been auctioned off in a judicial auction a year ago.
“Since 1975, the picture ‘Fried egg in the kitchen’ has hung in my living room,” explains Uwe Wagner. “But then, after 46 years of marriage, I experienced a divorce war.” It was about the shared possessions. Wagner claims: “And the sisters of my then wife stole the picture and wanted to sell it. I reported them.”
Because the signed painting, 30×40 centimeters in size, was given to him by his childhood friend Thomas Lange. He had studied painting at the University of the Arts, became known in the underground scene in West Berlin and later became a member of the “Junge Wilde” generation of artists.
Thomas Lange’s works fetch prices from 1,500 to 35,000 euros today. Uwe Wagner has a letter from his childhood friend in which the painter assures him that he gave the painting to Wagner.
The painting was made by Wagner’s friend, the painter Thomas Lange. Title: Fried egg in the kitchen Photo: Parvets
At the beginning of August, Uwe Wagner received a surprising letter from the public prosecutor’s office. Content: He can pick up his picture from the evidence room by September 13th. Uwe Wagner was happy to finally get his property back.
Last Thursday he went to Moabit. But the artwork was gone! “I was blown away when the employee explained to me that the painting had already been auctioned off last year. What madness for the authorities,” he says, emphasizing: “It’s not about the money for me. I don’t want to sell the picture.”
A spokesman for the public prosecutor’s office replied to the BZ request: “In fact, he was written to for the first time on January 25, 2022 and asked to pick up the picture. For whatever reason, this did not happen. Which is why – as Mr Wagner informed – the intended recycling took place after the deadline on March 25, 2022.” Uwe Wagner assures us that he never received the original letter.
The fact is: On August 5 last year, the painting was auctioned off by the responsible high court bailiff. “The auction proceeds amounted to eleven euros,” according to the press office. Only the surname of the bidder was noted.
“In this respect, it is no longer possible to retrieve the picture – and probably not legally permissible either,” said the spokesman. But why was Wagner asked to pick up his picture in August? The responsible officer overlooked the fact that a “decision on evidence objects had already been made”.
Uwe Wagner now wants to hire a lawyer and sue the public prosecutor for damages.