Dialogue with Jonathan Conrad Schlaun

Architect Johann Conrad Schlaun built Rüschhaus for himself between 1745-1748 as a mixture between a manor house and farmhouse. Today the property has become a popular destination for day trips in Münsterland. The architecture of the estate was conceived symmetrically on a central axis that forms a tree-lined path leading up to the main house. Richard Serra’s work can be found roughly 300 meters away from the building on this path around. The artist erected this sculpture in December 1996 on the occasion of Schlaun’s 300th birthday (1695–1773), placing it in dialogue with the baroque master’s work.
The sculpture is a massive 40-ton steel block with dimensions that correspond to the lower entryway of the building. The front of the block is sunken about 7° into the ground, creating an impression of leaning or even bowing towards the house. Through its positioning, this sculpture marks an important location on the property that creates an exciting dialogue between the eras.

Further reading:
Skulptur-Projekte in Münster 1997, eds.: Klaus Bußmann, Kasper König and Florian Matzner, Ostfildern 1997, pp.384–389.
Additional informaion about the location:
http://haus-rueschhaus.de