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Art in the open air:Experience contemporary works in the Herbert Gerisch Foundation's sculpture park
Idyllically situated on the Schwale river and just a 10-minute walk from Neumünster city center, the Herbert Gerisch Foundation's sculpture park is a very special destination. The foundation was established in 2001 by the former building contractor and politician Herbert Gerisch and his wife Brigitte Gerisch with the aim of collecting regional and international contemporary sculptures and making them accessible to the public.
The extensive collection, which includes works by international and regional artists, has been growing steadily for 24 years now and is harmoniously situated in a three-hectare landscaped park in the middle of the city of Neumünster. The partly historic park also includes the Villa Wachholtz, built in 1903 - an impressive Art Nouveau building and the heart of the park. Following restoration by the foundation in 2005-2007, the villa and the other exhibition buildings - the coach house, gallery, peacock house and basement - have become a venue for regularly changing exhibitions of photography, sculpture, graphic art, painting and video art.
Following the death of founder Herbert Gerisch in 2016, his wife Brigitte Gerisch-Hölk and her sons continue to run the foundation and ensure that the sculpture park continues to set international standards. In this interview, Brigitte Gerisch tells us more about the aims of the foundation, her love of art, the special features of the park and the current exhibitions.
Engel & Völkers Schleswig-Holstein:
Dear Mrs. Gerisch, great that we can learn more about the sculpture park and the work of the Herbert Gerisch Foundation! What motivated you and your husband to set up the foundation? Where does your enthusiasm for art come from?
Brigitte Gerisch:
My husband always intended to set up a foundation for art and culture with his fortune. I discovered and lived out my love of art at a young age. So our shared interests brought us together in the most fortunate way.
Engel & Völkers Schleswig-Holstein:
What are the goals of the foundation today?
Brigitte Gerisch:
The foundation primarily pursues its statutory objectives, such as collecting, promoting and preserving art as well as the preservation of the historic buildings on the site.
As there are now over 40 sculptural works in the park, it seemed sensible to expand this collection through purchases and donations for the interior in order to generate a visible dialog between outside and inside. Our exhibition "Outside - Inside" for the 20th anniversary of the foundation in 2021 documented this in a convincing way.
Engel & Völkers Schleswig-Holstein:
What significance does the foundation and the sculpture park have for the city of Neumünster?
Brigitte Gerisch:
Since its establishment, the Herbert Gerisch Foundation has become a popular and valued destination for art and nature lovers in the city.
At the same time, we enrich the cultural program of Neumünster with our commitment and ensure a positive perception beyond the city and state borders.
Engel & Völkers Schleswig-Holstein:
Feel free to tell us more about your current program: which exhibitions can visitors currently look forward to?
Brigitte Gerisch:
At the moment we are showing three exhibitions, on the occasion of his 90th birthday a section of the life's work of the sculptor Manfred Sihle-Wissel. At the same time, in cooperation with the Muthesius Academy of Fine Arts and Design Kiel, works by students are on display under the title "Reflections". For the first time, we are also presenting works by the 10 finalists of last year's G+G Award Nord art prize competition. This will be followed in the second half of the year by a major retrospective of the Cologne artist Heinz Breloh.
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Engel & Völkers Schleswig-Holstein:
How do the exhibitions come about at your company? How do you decide which artists to work with?
Brigitte Gerisch:
Our exhibitions are inspired by visits to trade fairs and exhibitions, specialist literature, artist friendships and a whole range of connections to gallery owners.
Engel & Völkers Schleswig-Holstein:
The garden has been used in different ways throughout its history and was completely overgrown for some time. What did you pay particular attention to when redesigning it?
Brigitte Gerisch:
In the first step after its foundation in 2001, the focus was on the connection between nature and art. Later, the restoration of the historic country house garden by the Lübeck garden architect Harry Maasz was added as a conservation component.
Engel & Völkers Schleswig-Holstein:
As part of your concept, you pose the question "Where is Arcadia?", the symbol of a poetic dreamland and the idea of a life in harmony with nature. What is your image of Arcadia?
Brigitte Gerisch:
... you've already answered that in your question. It is important to us that visitors experience and share exactly these feelings with us.
Engel & Völkers Schleswig-Holstein:
Dear Ms. Gerisch, thank you very much for the exciting insights and continued success for the foundation!
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Herbert Gerisch Foundation
Brachenfelder Street 69
24536 Neumünster
Phone 04321 555 120
Opening hours:
Wednesday to Sunday 12-18 h
On Sundays there are guided tours of the current exhibitions
Further information can be found at
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