The cross-over sculpture `Rock-Ruin` is located near
the former exit of a medieval secret passage. The Earls of Oberstein, living in
a castle at the top of the `Holy-rock`, built a town wall in a way that, if
besieged, enabled their escape through it. This passage ended at the `Rock-Ruin`
plateau, a strategic place, from which you can observe the valley of Oberstein.
The sculpture is also a close neighbour to the Church on the Rock. This
church was build in front of a cave, an ancient place of worship, where
Christian priests tried to force their faith on believers of a different
religion. It was also the time of the crusades, when Christian European men went
to the Middle East to Christianize Muslim men. In other words, they killed for
their-our god.
The Church on the Rock is used only a couple of days in the year for church
purpose. It is mainly a tourist attraction, the `Holywood` of Idar-Oberstein,
and the sculpture `Rock-Ruin` is a historical reflection of this Church on the
Rock.
`Rock-Ruin`was created by renovating a garden-house that
the ancestors of the artist built before 1928. Already during the application of
the picturesque ground-coating, the local goverments surveyor`s office stopped
the completion of the painting and engaged the department for the preservation
of ancient monuments.A stop order was issued on the grounds that the sculpture
disturbed the over all impression of the nearby stone church.
Many Inhabitants of the town accepted the new appearance in a much more
positive way, and they also were now able to use the church path that runs
underneath, in a more secure way. They were also happy about the newly gay
colored surroundings. |