When it comes to delivering powerful experiences through public art, German artist Thorsten Goldberg knows a thing or two about how to get it done. Heavy had the honor of sitting down with Thorsten to discuss the challenges of creating public art, how the process can be optimized and how important it is to engage with all stakeholders in the communities where he works.

Thorsten has established himself as a global artist with an impressive portfolio of permanent public art that includes celebrated “Rock-Paper-Scissors” installation on a bridge that once connected a divided East and West Berlin. Other successful works include “60°N 05°E” in Bergen, Norway, a stainless steel polygonal structure that blankets a small thumbnail of land and water, and his “Cumulus” series of clouds installed in public spaces and made with a variety of mediums, including neon lights and sculpted materials.

Through his 30+ years working as an artist, Thorsten has developed a keen business acumen and critical communication skills required to successfully introduce engaging works of art to the public. He has a simple but effective formula that works. Thorsten takes the time to engage with all stakeholders, brings the right team together to complete the project and stays engaged with his works to ensure that the experiences they provide remain true to their intent.

A Network of Ideas

With public art in mind, there are lessons we can learn from other global cities like Vienna and Berlin.

“Calgary is a global city where people from all over the world congregate. Their public art symbolizes this mosaic of talent. In Calgary, you have so much beautiful architecture from all over the world and the same should always be true for public art. Why should public art only be local? Art should be a symbol of the network of ideas we have that connects the world. The public art in Vienna represents this concept well,” Thorsten says….

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