After the opening of an exhibition, rock singer Udo Lindenberg (76) hopes that his paintings will influence the decision-making process in the Bundesrat. "When making difficult decisions, take a look at the peace sign from the plenary hall," the musician recommended to the state representatives.

Since Thursday, Lindenberg's "We're Moving to Peace" from 2016 - a picture of a diverse society in the form of the peace sign - has also been hanging in the building's atrium as part of an exhibition with nine works. That is "the most important message" of the exhibition, the title of which the artist praised: ""Open horizons" is a great line."

At the opening, Lindenberg warned of world peace as a utopia. Beyond the "war criminal Putin" long-term goals are necessary. He was referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered an attack on Ukraine a year ago. "We must never forget what we once competed for," said Lindenberg. It's about a world of tomorrow without a military. "We'll then use all the huge bucks that you save by abolishing the military to end hunger in the world and save the earth from climate catastrophe."

According to the First Mayor Peter Tschentscher, with the six-month exhibition, Hamburg is honoring Lindenberg as an honorary citizen of the Hanseatic city during the one-year Federal Council Presidency. The SPD politician referred to the peculiarity that only two musicians were to be found among the 37 honorees in the city: Lindenberg and Johannes Brahms (1833-1897).