SISYPHOS – the Tireless One
WOLF WERK – Hall 109

In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was known for his trickery and deceit. He was repeatedly outwitted the gods, which angered them and ultimately led to his eternal punishment of rolling a boulder up a hill, only for it to roll back down every time it neared the top.

At first sight this may seem like a curse, but for Sisyphus it is also a meaning-full task. ‘One must imagine Sisyphus happy’, concludes Albert Camus in his essay The Myth of Sisyphus. The contrast between interpreting the metaphor as a curse or as a task could not be greater.

Sculptor in steel Georg-Friedrich Wolf takes up the figure of Sisyphus – who has frequently served as an inspiration for, and subject of, European literature, painting and sculpture – as the theme for the third Wolf-Werk Sculpture Symposium, to be held in May 2025.

Sculptors from all over Europe are invited to express themselves in their materials – steel, stone or wood – on this multifaceted theme, ‘Sisyphus: the Tireless One‘, and to benefit from the synergies of the symposium. Cross-material experiences and the interplay of materials through mutual inspiration and collaboration are also welcome.

In Wolf-Werk’s historic Hall 109 in Darmstadt, Germany, three to four sculptors, selected by the jury will come together for a week of creative exchange and collaboration on different sculptures.

The theme ‘Sisyphus: the Tireless One’ will be explored in all its sculptural and thematic diversity.  Artistic interpretations could include various approaches: Sisyphus as the tragic or heroic figure; as the slave of his punishment; or as one who finds an existential meaning in his task. 

Finally, there will be a three-day closing event, including artist talks, sculptor presentations and an exhibition of the works created during the symposium.