We now have seen three of five „Stadtzeichen“ which mark Creative Quarter North. Following Viehofer Straße from the beginning at Fontänengasse you’ll pass „Water“ followed by „Coal“ at Kasteienstraße and „Steel“ at Kreuzeskirchstraße. As Essen is a city of Trading and Fair, further down, at junction with Kronenstraße you’ll meet Stadtzeichen „Trading“. With trade fairs and exhibitions, Essen is among the top ten exhibition locations in Germany which attracts around 1.5 million visitors annually. „Trading“ makes reference to that.

I must confess that I could not begin that much with this sculpture, and it seems to me that even the public does not understand it either. And so it finds its primary use as an advertising pillar. All efforts to keep it clean and prevent putting up advertising posters have been in vain. This sculpture would be ideal for paste-ups but I never have found any street art at this pillar. It seems to be a blind spot for street artists.

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