Erich Reusch began to design abstract sculptures for public space as early as the 1950s. He called them “decentralised sculptures” because they were less about the condensed sculptural form than about a definition of space. This made the sculptor, who lived in Neuenrade-Blintrop, one of the pioneers of postwar art in the Federal Republic of…

This large, highly visible landmark on the shores of Horstmarer See was created as part of the Landesgartenschau in 1996. Four stainless steel struts – three white and one red – support a construction made out of numerous nested square rods that are coated in colorful plastic. Like oversized pick-up sticks, these rods form a…

Erich Reusch won a competition to design the triangular space between the Rathaus, Christuskirche, and Bildungs- und Verwaltungszentrum. Circular forms were the basis for his design concept: A recessed circular zone is located at the center of the space and several elevated circles serve as places to sit. Water sprays from the center and flows…

With the early planning stages dating all the way back to 1956, this multi-part work by Erich Reusch serves as a very early example of Corten steel being used in a public sculpture. It was specifically designed for its position outside the new Finanzamt building, taking the spatial characteristics of the location under close consideration.…

Erich Reusch coined the term “decentralized sculpture” for his work. It not only indicates that his sculptures consist of several parts with no visual center, but also that the space between the elements is incorporated as an important part of the work. The Frankfurt Sculpture is located off the central path that runs through the…

Erich Reusch is the creator of numerous public sculptures, but they rarely dominate the setting. Instead, his works merge with their locations because they integrate the newly built architecture or incorporate the design of the surrounding space. Likewise, Free Standing Mobile Sculpture interacts with the nearby elementary school in Duisburg-Buchholz. It consists of two tall…

As a pioneer of decentralized sculpture in public space, Erich Reusch always maintained an awareness of architecture and spatial design in his work. Early on, he created multi-part works that were connected to the ground, rather than resting on a pedestal. They defined the public space, as they encouraged viewers to move around, established relationships…