On 19 December 2024, the Rüdersdorf Mining Association 1990 e.V. presented an oil painting by the Rüdersdorf artist Dieter Nickel to the local council on permanent loan. The painting, dating from 1955, depicts the Z1 cement works as seen from the Hennigsbrücke and serves as a historical record of the region’s industrial history.
The handover was carried out by the chairman of the Mining Association, Bernd Pabel, and his deputy, Bodo Scholz. They emphasised the special significance of this work of art, which reflects not only the development of the cement works but also Rüdersdorf’s industrial heritage. The painting depicts, amongst other things, the Strausberg mill stream in its original form, with its banks left unfortified. The historic loading bridge is also depicted. Connoisseurs with a thorough knowledge of the history will recognise the artistic licence that the painter occasionally allowed himself in his works. For example, the factory buildings of the former Z1 and Z3 have been slightly repositioned to enhance the overall composition of the industrial landscape.
The painting had previously been kept in the Mining Association’s archive and was restored and reframed on the association’s behalf. It is now on display in the entrance hall of the town hall, where it is accessible to the public. Members of the public are welcome to view the artwork during the town hall’s regular opening hours and gain an insight into the region’s history.
The handover of this work of art is a further step towards preserving the municipality’s historic mining heritage and making it accessible to future generations.