Der Wächter / The Guard

The Guard took its place in front of the Friedenskapelle in Bad Fredeburg as part of a three-month exhibition. However, when the sculpture had still not disappeared after ten months because the artist was ill, there were massive protests calling for the Guard to be removed. All sides were contented when the sculpture was moved to the park at the Rathaus in Schmallenberg.
In fact, The Guard is a massive statement made out of four-tons of forged steel. The pillar-like rectangular sculpture is only divided in one place, creating a cube at the top. This minimal intervention, with two holes going all the way through at the dividing line between the cube and pillar, is enough to give The Guard an anthropomorphic character. Although the sculpture remains abstract, the essence of an immovable, reliable guard and attentive presence is nonetheless captured in the work.