Tholey. The Wortsegel near Sotzweiler has been one of the most distinctive landmarks of the municipality of Tholey and the Saarland for exactly two decades. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the impressive steel sculpture, a comprehensive commemorative volume has now been published, documenting the history, creation, and development of this extraordinary work of art.
The book was presented during a presentation in the municipality of Tholey. The approximately 90-page volume was created in cooperation between the municipality of Tholey and the artist and creator of the word sail, Professor Heinrich Popp. The work combines historical documents, previously difficult-to-access texts from the time of the inauguration, as well as new contributions that highlight the significance of the sculpture from today's perspective.
"This book is much more than a reissue of the original inauguration brochure. It combines the history, ideas, and development of this special place and vividly demonstrates the significance the Wortsegel holds today for the municipality of Tholey and far beyond," said Mayor Andreas Maldener. In doing so, the head of the administration also emphasized the importance of the Wortsegel as the namesake of the renowned writing competition of the same name.
The word sail was erected in 2005 on a hill near Sotzweiler and has since developed into a widely visible landmark. For many visitors, the sculpture is now as integral to the municipality of Tholey as the Schaumberg or Tholey Abbey. The artwork uniquely combines culture, landscape, and identity, and has become a popular destination for walkers, hikers, and art enthusiasts.
Professor Heinrich Popp, who was born in Sotzweiler and is widely known far beyond the region as an emeritus university professor and visual artist, also explained the technical details of the sculpture during the book presentation. "According to Dillinger Hütte, this sculpture can stand for at least 2,000 years," Popp explained. The special steel used is designed to withstand the effects of wind and weather for centuries.
Particularly remarkable is the construction of the two steel elements, each approximately 13 meters high. Their tips touch at a great height on an area of only four by four centimeters and are welded together there. At the same time, the construction must remain sufficiently flexible to be able to withstand wind loads.
The anniversary volume is therefore dedicated not only to the cultural and literary aspects of the word sail but also highlights the extraordinary engineering achievement behind its creation. Documented are, among other things, the manufacturing and assembly work as well as the close collaboration with the Dillinger Hütte. The production of the ton-heavy steel plates placed the highest demands on material processing and rolling technology at the time.
“The Word Sail is also a symbol of the performance of the Saarland steel industry,” emphasized Heinrich Popp. He was particularly impressed by the technical implementation of the project at that time. “I spent many days at the Dillinger Hütte and followed the development process. That was fascinating and gave me great joy,” said the artist.
In addition to the technical background, the book also addresses the artistic idea. Heinrich Popp found the inspiration for the shape of the word sail in his lifelong fascination with seafaring and the elegant lines of modern sailing boats. The unusual name of the sculpture is also discussed. In doing so, the volume draws on the thoughts of the Saarland writer Johannes Kühn, whose works and reflections have accompanied the development of the project.
Mayor Andreas Maldener sees the anniversary volume as an important cultural-historical document at the same time: "The Wortsegel is a piece of home. It stands for peace, reflection, and cultural identity. The anniversary volume clearly shows how closely art, landscape, and history are intertwined in this place."
Heinrich Popp was born in Sotzweiler in 1944. After studying at the State School for Art and Craft in Saarbrücken, he initially worked as a graphic designer and later taught at the University of Fine Arts Saar, where he served as a professor of Visual Communication until his retirement. His artistic work includes drawings, paintings, woodcuts, and sculptures. The Wortsegel is considered his best-known work.
The anniversary edition was designed by designer Eric Jacob and produced by Krüger Druck + Verlag in Merzig. The publisher is the municipality of Tholey.
Caption:
Prof. Heinrich Popp, his son Christian Popp, and Mayor Andreas Maldener present the new book at the Tholey Town Hall, published to mark the 20th anniversary of the Wortsegel. In the background, another work by Heinrich Popp can be seen, which the artist has provided as a permanent loan to the municipality of Tholey. It is titled "The Bell" and has been displayed in the town hall for many years. It can be found in the stairway from the Citizen Service Center to the first floor.
Thank you very much and regards
On behalf
Eric Hülsberg
Municipality of Tholey
Central Control Department
Press and Public Relations/Tholey News
Im Kloster 1
66636 Tholey
Tel.: (06853) 508-16
Email:
e.huelsberg@tholey.de
Safety Notice
Please note that the content of this email, including any attached documents, is confidential.
If you have received this message in error, we ask you to contact the sender and delete the message.
Please note that messages sent via e-mail over the internet may be altered or falsified.
Conventional emails are not protected against third-party access and therefore confidentiality may not be ensured. You should refrain from sending sensitive data or communicate with us encrypted in the future.
