Page 23 - BSAM 2018 Q4

A Small but Beautiful Collection
The Official opening of the “Richard Sang Collection”
ABy Gudrun Benz, Germany
dream came true with the opening of the Richard Sang collection at the “Kultur- 4-Eck” (Cultural Square) at Hassloch on August 25, 2018 in one of the museum’s rooms. Even in other parts of Germany
almost no one knows where Hassloch is located. Hassloch is a municipality in Rhineland-Palatinate, South-West Germany, located not too far from Mannheim/Ludwigshafen. It is home to the metal- working industry for the production of drink cans.
In the past, agriculture was the main income of the population. Many half-timbered, three-sided estates still exist and are protected as historical monuments. This is also the case for the Cultural Square, a combination of old and modern buildings.
Richard Sang (1920 – 2006) was an ardent collector of Suiseki and Chinese Scholars’ rocks since 1994 when he saw such stones for the first time in an exhibition together with bonsai. In the course of a short time he assembled a valuable and representative collection of viewing stones from nearly all over the world but mainly Chinese Scholars’ rocks (Gongshi). He purchased most of these Scholars’ rocks from the well-known collector and dealer Kemin Hu and even travelled for this purpose twice to the USA. Willi Benz helped Richard to edit a catalogue where all stones were featured. As introduction into stone culture, Kemin Hu and Willi Benz contributed with explanations about “Oriental philosophy and Chinese Scholars’ Rocks (Gongshi)” and“Gongshi–Suiseki”.Richardstated:“Lookingatmy Gongshi and Suiseki I am more and more aware of the beauty of these wonders of nature and I am fascinated by them. It is the beauty of abidingness, of eternity...”
Richard Sang donated his whole collection by testament to his home municipality, together with some money for its furnishing.
It was only 12 years after his passing away that Richard’s will was realized. Finally, the administration of the village had found a curator, Mr. Rudi Ritter, who implemented with great commitment the guidelines given by the donor for establishing the respective displays of the items. Now about 70 from about 130 Suiseki/Gongshi are shown in glass boxes. The biggest is 141 cm high, some are only of a few centimeters. All in all, a very impressive and outstanding exhibition, unique of its kind in the West. This donation is a fitting memorial to Richard Sang.
The room is open to the public during the opening times of the local history museum on the first and third Sunday of each month from 14:30–17:00 h.
Facing page; “God of the Sea,”Lingbi stone, 80.5 cm h, wooden stand carving with waves. Formal photos of the stones are by Willi Benz, courtesy Gudrun Benz.
Top; “The Oldest House,”a half- timbered house with a mighty gate nowadays is the local historic museum of Hassloch. New low buildings behind form the cultural centre. Photo: Gudrun Benz.
Middle; View into the exhibition room, where the Suiseki and Gongshi are stored in glass boxes. Photo: Rudi Ritter.
Bottom; On occasion of
the official opening of the collection, from the left to the right: Mr. Dr. Ihlenfeld (chief administrative officer of the district); Gudrun Benz; an officer of the community of Hassloch; Rudi Ritter, curator of the exhibition.
October/November/December 2018 | BCI | 21