The wait is finally over: two sculptures, designed by students from the Sculpture Club at Johannes-Althusius-Gymnasium and built by apprentices from the Wittgenstein Training Centre (BZW), have now been officially unveiled.
It has been a truly monumental project. After two years from the initial idea to its completion, everyone involved was visibly proud of the final result. What began as a school sculpture project evolved into an outstanding community collaboration involving Johannes-Althusius-Gymnasium, the Wittgenstein Training Centre (BZW), the City of Bad Berleburg, the University of Siegen, and the Neues CAPITOL. Funding was provided through the LEADER programme as well as generous donations from local businesses and private supporters throughout Wittgenstein.
Paper Airplanes
A paper airplane has always been one of the simplest remedies for boredom. All it takes is a single sheet of paper and the right folding technique to transform it into a small masterpiece of physics, a playful prank, a symbol of youthful rebellion against authority—and perhaps, above all, a symbol of freedom. While paper airplanes may once have been a nuisance to teachers, today they can also represent creativity, humour, and the freedom to dream.
Students Ruben Bertram, Anton Fenner and Vincent Schneider, together with apprentices from both the previous and current BZW training years (represented by Fabian Schmidt, Jonas Dietrich, Jason Stöcker and Philipp Kuhli), are the creative minds behind this sculpture. They experimented, developed ideas, discarded concepts and refined their designs until the final form emerged.
The existing concrete ring marks the beginning of an imaginary spiral flight path along which the paper airplanes appear to soar. Although the flight path is physically divided into two sections, the viewer naturally completes it in their imagination. The eye follows the paper airplanes upward into the sky. Despite being constructed from solid steel, the sculpture conveys an impressive sense of lightness, movement and dynamism.
Looking Through the Screen
Painted in striking traffic red, this assemblage is mounted on the façade of Johannes-Althusius-Gymnasium. Through both its title and its design, it creates a visual connection—perhaps even an imaginary bridge—between the school and the cinema. The project itself began with the old metal letters from the CAPITOL cinema, which had been carefully preserved during the building’s renovation.
Lotta Kolshorn, together with Hannah Wiegnanek, immediately recognised the artistic potential of these letters. She arranged them to form what appears to be a cinema screen. On closer inspection, however, the composition subtly reveals the number 100, commemorating the 100th anniversary of Johannes-Althusius-Gymnasium.
The charm of this sculpture lies in its apparent simplicity, inviting visitors to look more closely. Which letters can actually be identified? Are they still letters at all? Do they form a word? Or has the arrangement become something entirely different? These questions encourage every viewer to engage with the artwork in their own way.
“These sculptures are much more than abstract forms,” explained Janina Wolf, art teacher at Johannes-Althusius-Gymnasium and leader of the Sculpture Club. “They demonstrate what a strong community and a creative network can achieve in the fields of art and culture. In a way, all of us are part of these sculptures. I hope that this thought will accompany everyone who takes the time to look at them.”
Mayor Volker Sonneborn echoed these sentiments, praising the dedication, creativity, determination and teamwork shown by everyone involved. “We need your ideas—not only today, but in the future as well,” he said.