Already on my former trips to Düsseldorf, the capital of Germany's Federal Country North Rhine - Westphalia, I'd noticed sculptures on some of the advertising pillars.
No sign, no advertisement, you had to walk around with open eyes to spot them.
This time, before going to Düsseldorf on my blogger trip, I did some research and found out, that these people are cleverly called 'Säulenheilige', which in English is Stylite - and here the clever pun goes down the drain: The literal translation would be Säule = pillar and Heiliger = saint. Got the pun? The statues are standing on a pillar - and standing there makes them stylites....like I said: The pun gets lost in translation; but there are still these unexpected people at different corners of the city - and I'm introducing seven of them.
Why seven? It's very tempting to write something about magic numbers with a special meaning. But the truth is that at least two of the saints are in some suburbs and I didn't have the time to venture all the way out there. One seems to be gone - I didn't find him although I do remember him from former visits. And the last one will be added next time: I spotted him from a ferry on the river Rhine but didn't have the time to go back to take a picture of him.
So seven. And here we go:
The Photographer
You must be basically blind not to find him since he's standing right in front of the main entrance of the main station, having his camera ready.
Father and Son
Coming from the main station walking down the Immermannstrasse in Little Tokyo (Düsseldorf has the only significant Japanese community in Germany), you meet these two on the right side of the street.
The Couple
These two are holding hands on the Burgplatz, one of the busiest squares in Düsseldorf's old town. Maybe they are from out of town and afraid to lose each other in the crowd.
The Couple II
A firm grip, a passionate kiss - this couple shows more determination and passion.
Die Fremde
There's a reason that this is the only title that I do not translate: Fremde means either stranger or foreigner and I do not want to determine what's meant here. In any case, it is a pretty forlorn woman, holding her child close to her, looking over the river Rhine. In search? In despair?
Marlis Marlis was one of the first Stylites and she's been living in the modern area of the Medienhafen, the media harbour, between the building of the WDR, the regional broadcasting station, and the TV-tower, the Rheinturm, one of Düsseldorf's tourist attractions.
Christoph Pöggeler was born in Münster / Westphalia in 1958. He is painting, sculpting, and teaching mainly around the North Rhine Westphalia area. Pöggeler was various time awarded with art prizes.
He created the first series of his STYLITES from 2001 to 2007 in Düsseldorf, more followed in 2015 and 2016.
Supposedly, there are ten STYLITES exhibited around Düsseldorf. Like I explained above, one couldn't be found and to are quite far from the city center.
The Bride
Strange that this bride seems to be dancing and swirling all by herself. I think that there is some sort of runaway bride behind. You go, girl!
The Business Man
I spotted him from the river Rhein cruise and did not have the time to go back to take a decent picture.
