Construction work has begun at Osnabrück's main train station to install a unique sculpture by renowned German artist Stephan Balkenhol. The artwork, titled 'Homo Mobilis,' will be positioned on a specially constructed eight-meter railway track directly in front of the station's main entrance.

The sculpture installation is part of a cultural beautification project funded by the Foundation for Art and Culture (Stiftung für Kunst und Kultur e.V.). This foundation has been commissioned by German Railways to enhance train stations and station squares across the country with artistic and cultural installations. Osnabrück was selected as one of the beneficiary locations for this ambitious cultural initiative.

The city's Cultural Committee discussed and approved the foundation's proposal in June. Under the agreement, the foundation provides the artwork free of charge, while the city simply provides the installation space. The sculpture will remain at the location for a minimum of five years and a maximum of ten years, giving residents and visitors ample time to appreciate this artistic addition to their urban landscape.

'Homo Mobilis' features a larger-than-life figure of an everyman character dressed in a white shirt and black pants. What makes this sculpture particularly striking is that the figure is balanced on a pedalo (a pedal-powered watercraft), which gives the otherwise static figure a playful sense of movement and dynamics. The pedalo serves as the mobile foundation for the silent gentleman, symbolizing the mobility aspect referenced in the sculpture's name.

The construction of the railway track foundation is necessary to provide a stable base for the artwork. Workers and excavators are currently digging and laying the specialized track system that will support Balkenhol's creation. While the construction might seem unusual to passersby – with actual railway tracks being installed in front of a train station – this is purely for artistic purposes rather than transportation.

Originally, city council members in the Cultural Committee had hoped that Balkenhol's 'Homo Mobilis' would be ready to greet guests during Lower Saxony Day (Tag der Niedersachsen), a significant regional celebration. However, that timeline proved too ambitious, and the installation was delayed.

The current construction is taking place against the backdrop of ongoing renovation work at Osnabrück's main station square, which has been essentially one large construction site. The addition of another excavation project for the sculpture installation blends into the existing construction landscape, though the sight of railway tracks being laid directly in front of the station entrance has caught the attention of curious onlookers.

This artistic initiative is part of a broader effort to beautify Osnabrück through cultural installations. The city has been exploring various ways to incorporate art into public spaces, including potential projects at the Galeria Kaufhof building and other prominent locations throughout the urban center.

The official unveiling of 'Homo Mobilis' is scheduled for October 1st, when residents and visitors will finally get to see the completed installation. For the next five to ten years, Balkenhol's artistic figure will serve as a unique greeter for arriving passengers and a farewell presence for departing travelers, adding a distinctive cultural element to one of the city's busiest transportation hubs.