The “Solara” artwork was originally erected in 1999 during an environmental fair at the Schlossgarten. It was to be dismantled again after the end of the fair. However, a group of primary school children from Osnabrück managed to convince the public and politicians that it should remain there permanently.
The artwork by Swiss artist Claire Ochsner (*1948) is a kinetic work of art. This means that some parts of the artwork move with the help of solar cells. It is almost 5 metres high and is made of polyester. [Polyester is a special type of plastic. It is made from things that come from the earth, such as petroleum. People use chemicals to make it]. It is painted in bright colours. Its shape is reminiscent of an exotic plant with a broad blue trunk that becomes narrower towards the top. There is a yellow element at the top, reminiscent of a calyx or a French horn.