Mannesmann I / Bewegung / Mannesmann I / Movement

Düsseldorf artist and former academic director Norbert Kricke is known for his non-representational, dynamic works — known as his Spatial Sculptures. Kricke doesn’t understand sculpture as a mass or a body placed in space, but instead breaks his works down to the point of immateriality. His Spatial Sculptures are made out of seemingly weightless curved steel tubes. Rather than the mass of stone or bronze, the impulsively curved line is the central design element in his sculptures.
Numbering among the artist’s Knots and Bundles, the sculpture on Mannesmannufer is one of Kricke’s main works. The knot structure is formed out of five bundled steel bars. It looks like a three-dimensional version of a gestural drawing, while remaining dynamic and light. The airy movement of Kricke’s sculpture contrasts the severe uniform architecture of the surrounding office buildings. On behalf of Mannesmann AG, Mannesmann I / Movement was installed in 1961 in front of their offices. Ideally, Kricke wanted the work to be placed in a water basin. With that in mind, it was situated beside garden architect Roland Weber’s New Geometric Fountain. As is common, Kricke drew the title of the work from its location. When Mannesmann AG was taken over by British telecommunications company Vodafone and the building complex was rebuilt in 2000-2001, Weber’s fountain had to make way for a parking lot.

Original German text: Stefanie Ippendorf