an inventory and documentary of art environments in Europe created by non-professionals
October 28, 2026
Steffen Modrach, Schloss Lilliput / Lilliput Castle
images are screenprints froom the visdoe in thr documentation, published here in agreement with Steffen Modrach
The image above shows a multicolored wall with the designation Schloss Lillliput. This refers to a house in the eastern part of Germany that has been transformed into an art environment.
The name Lillliput features the letter L four times, which has sometimes been interpreted as a reference to four human traits, in German. Liebe, Lust, Laune und Leiidenschaft and in English love, lust, mood and passion......
Indications that can indeed be seen as fitting for a special creation.
.Life and works
This art environment, a very extensive creation, is located in Naundorf, a community with 170 residents that is part of the municipality of Fichtwald-Naundorf, located in the state of Brandenburg, eastern Germany.
It was crafted by Steffen Modrach, born in the early 1960s, who began the project around 2010.
Growing up in the German Democratic Republic (DDR), he wondered, even as a child, why most houses were so gray and angular. He felt a greater affinity for rounded, colorful designs.
Expressing these views publicly caused him trouble in the DDR. He was committed to a psychiatric institution, from which he attempted to escape, an act that led to a prison sentence.
However, once past those experiences that had restricted his freedom, he opted for a quiet life, working as a newspaper writer, a crane operator, a caretaker.and so on.
He loved reading books and in doing so came across the work of Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928–2000), who was known for his opposition to straight lines. Inspired by this way of thinking Steffen Modrach dreamed of having a home of his own that was rounded and colorful. .
Eventually, around 2010 Modrach set to work decorating the home in Naundorf that he shared with the wife he had married, giving it an aesthetic that reflected his own personal vision.
The creative project is not limited to the decorated wall along the street; it also encompasses the interior of the residence and the garden belonging to the property, a complex that altogether amounts to a decorated space of approximately 7,000 square meters.
In Germany,such a creation is referred to as a Gesamtkunstwerk (a total work of art), a term introduced by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, used to designate an art form characterized by a harmonious fusion of humanity and nature and an explosive diversity of colors and shapes.
.
The site has also been described as a fantasy castle that is inhabited.
Some images of the interior
The four images above provide an impression of how the interior is furnished with countless colorful elements, such as millions of mosaic tiles, musical instruments, chairs, mirrors, bowls, and small sculptures, arranged in what appears to be a somewhat random fashion, yet possessing an impressive allure when viewed as a whole.
Some iimage of the outdoor space
This also applies to the decorations in the outdoor space, as illustrated by the four images above, such as the collection of colorful, pointed-topped cylinders shown in the top image, which as it seems serve just a purely decorative function.
Also visible is a person sitting amidst the greenery, as well as a passageway with a semi-circular top, set into an elaborately decorated wall.
* Article on the website of Jens Wiesner, with an overview of the materials used
Video
* Video (October 2024, 30'10) entiteld Schloss Lillliput Rundgang, filmed by Ina and Peter, in all likelihood descendants of Steffen Modrach and his partner.
.
Steffen Modrach
Schloss Lillliput
Dorfstrasse 49,
04936 Nanundorf, district Elbe-Elster, State Brandenburg, Germany
No comments:
Post a Comment