The Viersen Sculpture Collection was
built up during the last 25 years by the donation of the American businessman
and former Viersen citizen William Pohl as well as by other donations and
funds from the “Stiftung Kunst und Kultur” of North Rhine-Westfalia. So the
park surrounding the City Art Gallery “Galerie im Park” developed into a fine
sculpture collection contributed by well renowned artists.
When in 1992 the 12 meters high steel sculpture New Star consisting of five parts, which was
already created in 1986/87 by the US-Artist Mark
di Suvero, was first erected on loan on the Diergardt-Place, a storm of protest
against it arose via letters to the editor of the local paper by Viersen
citizens. This example of modern art was too alien to many of them. Meanwhile repeated information over
the artists and their works, the international acceptance of the exhibition
shown by numerous visitors from all over Germany, as well as other countries
and extensive media coverage have led to a change of heart among the citizenry.
The sculpture shown
on the card was the creation of Günter Haese, and very aptly named Optimus II. The sculpture
is made of Brass
and stainless steel and is Approx. 7 x 5 x 1.50 m. It was created in 2006-2007. And is
located in the park next to the Städtische Galerie.
The town of Viersen is on the left Lower Rhine in the west of the
state of North
Rhine-Westphalia and
is a large
district town of Viersen in the administrative
district of Dusseldorf . The city is seat of the district
Viersen. Contrary to popular belief, the town name derives not from
"Four Lakes", but on the old name "Viers" today the
so-called "Bach's villages" near the "Emperor mill".
