Lichtstele / Light Stele

The installation of Zero pioneer Heinz Mack’s Light Stele in Bocholt was only made possible through unconventional means. There were six artworks planned as part of the Kunst im öffentlichen Raum initiative, each dedicated to the basic elements, with the Light Stele representing light and air. Not all of the planned artworks were completed. The fact that Mack’s column could be realized is largely due to the personal contributions collected by the citizens of Bocholt and the building authority’s active engagement in its implementation. When the paved roundabout was being constructed, a concrete stele was cast according to Mack’s original plans. The specially manufactured metal sheets and plates were obtained from the artist and mounted based on his specifications.
The result was one of Mack’s characteristic Light Stelae, a towering sculpture that interacts with the surrounding light by changing its color and effect depending on the weather. The first two meters of the stele are covered with aluminum plates, while the rest is furnished with stainless steel plates, ending in a triangular tip. As such, the tall sculpture looks weightless and immaterial, and entirely devoted to the surrounding light.