Von der Schieflage zur Lebenslust

“Von der Schieflage zur Lebenslust” (From Imbalance to Joy of Life) is a famous, colorful public art piece in Essen, Germany, created under the artistic direction of Moni van Rheinberg in 2001. Situated at Grundstraße / Kraspothstraße in Essen-Katernberg. It covers 250 m of a perimeter wall of the former Zollverein Coal Mine (Shaft 3/7/10), The installation combines vibrant painting, graphic designs, steel silhouettes of human figures, and integrated nesting boxes for birds and insects.

The artists Gine Selle and Claudia Terlunen collaborated with Moni van Rheinberg to realize the project which reflects the structural transformation of the Ruhr region. The term Schieflage (imbalance/tilt) refers to the ground subsidence caused by coal mining and the economic hardships after the mines closed. The transition to Lebenslust (joy of life) represents the cultural rebirth and future optimism of the area. A core motif written on the wall reads: “caged birds singing of freedom, free birds flying!”