Urban Art in Public Space

Urban Art in Public Space: Colourful Redesign of the Bus Stop in Neukirchen-Vluyn

The Vluyner Platz Suare in Neukirchen-Vluyn, in the north of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, was transformed “from an eyesore to a flag ship”, is the title of Lena Steffens’ report in the daily newspaper “Rheinische Post” on September 3, 2024. The Belgian artist Sebastien Theys has transformed the bus stop and shelter on the square into a colourful eye-catcher with his artistic design. The city's project is part of the "Sustainable inner cities and town centres in North Rhine-Westphalia" funding program of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Local Government, Construction and Digitalization. The contact between the artist and the city was established by the "Auftragsart" agency, which hires artists specifically for projects like this. StoCretec, Kriftel near Frankfurt, was happy to support this idea by delivering the primer and floor coating in the desired colours.

On the approximately 150 square meters of Vluyn Square, artist Theys has incorporated the initial letters of the town of Neukirchen-Vluyn, N and V, as well as skilfully absorbing the colour scheme of the surrounding houses in red and blue.

Theys first applied the primer StoPox WG 100 onto the chosen areas of concrete floor. The epoxy resin has a very good bond with mineral substrates as well as with existing coatings. It is permeable to water vapour, has low emissions and cures quickly. The colour design followed by applying the polyurethane resin sealant StoPur WV 150. This is available in a wide variety of colour shades and was easy for the artist to handle with a paint roller. For the safety of pedestrians, the surface was of course made slip-resistant.

An aerial photograph of the completed installation by AuftragsART can be found at “Bushaltestelle Vluyner Platz” (YouTube.com).

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