Sculptor drawn back to rail trail
OLAF Mengeringhausen loves the Arts on the Rail Trail programme.
He has been involved since its inception four years ago.
Every year he has exhibited his works — inspired by the urban culture of his early life in Germany and the shapes and symbols of the rural New Zealand landscape — at the Stationside Cafe in Lauder, a few metres from the Otago Central Rail Trail.
The exposure his artworks received kept him coming back for more, he said.
‘‘It’s good to help artists present their work to a better audience.’’
Arts on the Rail Trail 2018 officially began last weekend.
For 12 weeks from February to April, people using or travelling near the 150km Otago Central Rail Trail can view works by Central Otago artists between Clyde and Middlemarch.
Mr Mengeringhausen is one such artist.
He moved to Alexandra in 2007 from western Germany, where he was born and educated.
This year for Arts on the Rail Trail he had 10 artworks on display and for sale at the Lauder cafe.
One would have to admit that Mr Mengeringhausen’s artwork is eyecatching, but there is one onlookers stop to view more than others.
According to cafe owners Shirley and Alan Vette this is a leg sculpture, towering over the cafe garden and standing a head or two above most.
Mr Mengeringhausen called it ReLax and said it was inspired by the movement of fashion models on the catwalk in Dusseldorf, Germany.
He said he created sculptures and paintings, usually with metal but sometimes on canvas.
There are 36 cafes, restaurants, hotels, galleries and retail stores along the cycle track participating in Arts on the Rail Trail.