Credit: Commune de Steinfort
On Tuesday 8 July 2025, the municipality of Steinfort and non-profit organisation Aktikulti asbl announced that Markus Hoffmann as the winner of the 7th edition of the Steinfort Sculpture Competition.
The municipality reported that the winning work by German-born artist Markus Hoffmann, entitled "Transformation", will be installed on the "Op der Berk" site of the Mirador in July 2025. The site is described as being “part of a strong commitment to showcase local heritage and promote artistic dialogue with the landscape”.
According to the municipality, the competition attracted national and international interest, with artists from twelve different countries submitting their proposals in the form of detailed plans and models. On Saturday 5 July 2025, each artist presented their project to a six-member jury comprising a representative of the municipality, the vice-president of the Entente des sociétés de la commune de Steinfort, the president of the advisory committee on cultural affairs and tourism, the municipal forester and two professional artists.
After the selection process, three finalists were selected: Markus Hoffmann, Yannick Tossing and Martin Mas. After in-depth deliberations and a visit to the "Op der Berk" site, the jury unanimously chose Markus Hoffmann's "Transformation" project as the winner.
The official announcement of the winner was made on Saturday 5 July during a reception at the Al Schmelz Cultural Centre, attended by the Mayor of Steinfort, Sammy Wagner, representatives of the municipality, the Aktikulti asbl team, the participating artists and numerous guests.
The municipality described "Transformation" as “a work rooted in history and landscape”, which was inspired by the region's industrial history and the central role played by iron ore mining and “questioning our relationship with the landscape and time”. The installation is designed to be interactive, inviting visitors to reflect on how nature, history and human activity intertwine to shape the places we inhabit.
Models of the works were on display throughout the weekend to allow all citizens to discover the projects. The model of the winning work can currently be seen at the entrance to the town hall in Steinfort.
