Drei Plastiken im Raum Sculpture

Emerging from the ground near Witten’s Saalbau, the Drei Plastiken im Raum sculpture commands attention. Three gleaming stainless steel forms rise before you. They are separate yet interconnected. The title, Drei Plastiken im Raum, emphasizes their individuality. Yet, their arrangement creates a unified presence. Two elements resemble metallic plants reaching skyward, like frozen lightning. The third, larger form rests on a pedestal. It seems to contain and direct the energy of the other two. The Drei Plastiken im Raum sculpture was created by Berlin artist Volkmar Haase. He had previously exhibited at Witten’s Märkisches Museum. Following his 1972 exhibition, he was commissioned for this work. The sculpture was intended to link the newly constructed Saalbau with the surrounding park. The Saalbau opened in 1975. It serves as a venue for cultural and social events. Both the building and Haase’s sculpture reflected a modern, forward-looking cultural vision. Haase worked almost exclusively with industrial materials. Iron, sheet steel, and stainless steel fascinated him. This fascination led him to sculpture. He studied painting, but found himself drawn to the direct manipulation of metal. He controlled every step of the creation process, from initial concept to final form. The Drei Plastiken im Raum was created this way, in his Berlin studio. Haase’s artistic language arose from the properties of the materials themselves. He once stated his connection to the material was so concrete and clear that hardly any illusions could arise. The triangular form dominates the Drei Plastiken im Raum. Haase often explored this shape, varying it as open, closed, or split. In each iteration, the triangle remains a dynamic accent. It expresses strength and tension.