The situation and general aims of the Woodland Sculpture Trail Wittgenstein-Sauerland

The Woodland Sculpture Trail Wittgenstein-Sauerland, which crosses the Rothaarsteig Trail, should have its own accent, one which not only documents traditional ties but also expresses the modern character of mankind. The characteristics should be integrated into the naturalness of the trail in an unobtrusive but clear way, thus attractively adding to and expanding upon the trail system. At the same time, a trail which has a significance much greater than that of a simple path is created. The trail connects the historically and architecturally very different towns of Bad Berleburg, with its significant castle, and Schmallenberg, which has an equally significant cloister. Through its accentuation with significant works of art, installations and sculptures, and thus through the activities associated with it, the trail obtains a character of a cultural trail which connects two different worlds. The goal is to achieve an atmosphere which does justice to the old trail through the sensitive and careful integration of works of art. There are three premises on which the characterisation of the Sculpture Trail should be based:

  • The mysteriousness and uniqueness of nature not only must be upheld; it must be stressed.
  • The history of the cultural landscape and its people must be reflected.
  • The wanderer should be able to find leisure, rest, and pause for thought.

What possibility does modern art have of meeting these requirements? Can the art itself acquire a new meaning by being part of such a trail? To the interested layman, art can often seem too lofty; something only accessible for a small elite. In all probability, there is a certain fear that this could happen with the trail proposed here. It must be said at this point that serious art of any quality requires the viewer to look into himself and think about the work. The wide variety of art which can been seen today and which reflects the plurality of the modern world often makes it difficult for people to find their own connection to the artwork. For this reason, possibilities for conveying didactic information to the viewer must be considered. Although this problem still needs to be looked into, contemporary art can express itself enough to be understood in itself.

  • The complexity of today’s art trends makes an excellent basis for the conception of the Sculpture Trail: Ecological art and "land art", sociological-integrative approaches and "action-art", works of art using light and acoustics; all these forms build a varied and sensory-oriented spectrum of possibilities which allows the premises listed above to be met and supplies the viewer with a vivid and intensive experience.
  • In Central Europe, the appearance of nature today is never that of a prehistoric wilderness but of a landscape shaped by man; consequently, nature can be partially defined as being part of man’s cultural heritage. Man-made art thus forms a freely defined entrance for man’s spirit into his surroundings, shaped by his different sensory channels. Being able to connect and harmonise the two sides of the human expression of culture means to strive for an integrated approach to representing mankind’s ability to shape and form the world around him.
  • Placing art in a natural environment in this way frees it from having any ideals imposed on it and gives it a freedom of expression which takes it back to its roots. Thus, the works of art will not forcibly "rape" the surrounding nature, but instead will create a form of dialogue with the environment.
  • Encounters with works of art integrated in such a manner can give the hiker or walker a personal moment of associative and free inner dialogue: Art as an integrated part of nature, as part of a complete experience, which can easily lead to new ways of perceiving and understanding things. The wanderer’s experience, which stretches from observations of nature through encounters with farming and crafting traditions to an intellectual, sensory-oriented form of expression, enables him to see the world in new ways.