A unique symbiosis: Metal construction meets art at Moll

The metal construction company Moll works closely with the artist Werner Haypeter. What unites them in their work is a love of precision.

Anyone who visits the idyllically situated factory grounds of the Moll metal construction company visited, he soon notices large-format artworks that blend seamlessly into the workshop atmosphere.

This circumstance is thanks to an encounter between the Bonn artist Werner Haypeter and the brothers Norbert and Harald Moll, which was 25 years ago.

Artistic collaboration in metal construction began by chance

"The encounter was a happy coincidence for me," says Werner Haypeter, who was led to the metalworking shop by a necessary repair to a garden gate. Two weeks after the repair, Haypeter visited the shop again – this time in his capacity as an artist – to inquire about... whether Norbert Moll could weld something for himHe did so, and over time the two became accustomed to each other and became friends.

 "I have always been interested in art in my private life as well," he says. Norbert Moll"For example, in Bilbao in the Guggenheim Museum "Works made of steel that fascinated me. Afterwards, I researched on the internet how they were all made."

Precision and craftsmanship: Haypeter's art in action

Werner Haypeter DIALOG 2025 11 Hollow Cylinders_7 Cylinders Steel, Plastic 100,3 x 80,3 x 11,4 cm / variable size. Photo: Werner Haypeter © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2025

Together they work out the best way to technically implement Haypeter's idea. Their common foundation is the Love of precisionTo mathematical thought experiments and a A feel for the material, which characterizes the art of Werner Haypeter.

"Even though Norbert's work often revolves around practical matters and mine around art, we have great respect for each other.", says Haypeter, who now moves around the company premises as a matter of course and has learned to weld.

Exploration of the material

Werner Haypeter loves the in-depth study of the materialsHe immerses himself in production processes, seeking exchange with the craftspeople and employees, which he uses for his artworks. Whether it's paper as the material of his earlier works, created in the immediate vicinity of a publishing house and printing plant, or plastic as the basis of his large-format objects, which he developed at MC-Bauchemie Whether working with wood or metal in his most recent works: Haypeter thoroughly explores the things he dedicates himself to in his work. And he consults those who work with the material on a daily basis. Besides the professional exchange, social interaction is particularly important to him.

Characteristic of his work, besides the Engaging with the material also involves playing with mathematics and the relationship between things. The works appear austere, orderly, and meticulous, conveying a palpable harmony that is by no means accidental. Take, for example, the seemingly lucid large circle in the center of a square, which contains a multitude of neatly arranged smaller circles. "The sum of the small circles makes up the large one," explains Werner Haypeter.

The same applies to his work with three superimposed plastic elements, which consist of a total of 18 cylinders and each show different arrangements of optical interruptions in the transverse direction. These, too, are not chosen randomly, but follow a mathematical principle, as do the curved metal brackets to which they are attached. These brackets are exactly as long as the outer diameter of the pipes.

The beauty of works beyond the calculable

All the works have a puzzle that makes them appealing to look at, correspondences that are not resolved but are seen slumbering somewhere in the back of the eye or in the brain.

"Norbert very quickly develops an understanding of where I want to take my work."“That’s not always easy,” says Werner Haypeter. “Because the beauty and essence of the works lie beyond what can be calculated.” "While Werner develops his art in our company, it's a special shared experience; we observe our work in a completely different way. It's about seeing and thinking, and this process is incredibly enjoyable.", so Moll.

Werner HaypeterWerner Haypeter, born in 1955 in Helmstedt, was Master student of Prof. Erwin Heerich an der Düsseldorf Art AcademyHis works include paper works, wall objects and room-related installations, in which he prefers to work with industrial materials such as PVC, resin and Plexiglas.

Since 1985, Werner Haypeter has exhibited regularly in art associations, museums, and galleries. His works are represented in renowned collections, including the MoMA New York, the Pinakothek der Moderne Munich and ZKM KarlsruheIn 2020, he was awarded the August Macke Medal by the city of Bonn. Werner Haypeter lives and works in Düsseldorf and Bonn.
haypeter.de
instagram.com/werner.haypeterMoll Metal Construction Family business for 57 years
Owners: Norbert and Harald Moll

Produces classic metalwork for single-family homes as well as commissioned work for urban design and collaborates with various architectural firms.
metallbau-moll.de

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