Deep within a German forest lies a surreal car graveyard that needs to be seen to be believed.
The 20,000 square meter compound, located in Neandertal 12 km (7.5 m) east of Düsseldorf, is not a scrapyard or sales forecourt.
Once worth millions, these rare and collectable cars are usually kept going at a great cost.
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However, it’s not a car graveyard like this one in Japan filled with classic cars.
Or this collection of 230 classic cars, including rare Ferraris, found in a hidden barn.
Nor is it a scrapyard or bizarre sales forecourt – all of these cars and the stories behind them were staged.
But here, they’re encouraged to deteriorate and vanish with an occasional coat of milk or saltwater.
The thought-provoking art installation was arranged by German car dealer, designer and constructor, Michael Fröhlich.
He launched the project in the year 2000.
He started when, for his 50th birthday, he gifted himself fifty classic cars built in 1950 – the year he was born.
But he didn’t buy them to maintain, flip or simply enjoy: he bought them with the purpose of watching them rot.
He spent millions in his quest to show the undeniable supremacy of Mother Nature.
“That is the circle of life,” says YouTuber, Broken Window Theory. “It’s a metaphor for life.”
He hopes to convey transience via the cars and, through the biosphere that’s sprung up around them, that as one thing is dying, something else is being born.
A white Jaguar was the first car he dumped in the woods.
It won the Oldtimer Grand Prix on a German racing track
That was followed by the Porsche of his competitor.
Then 48 other automobiles from all around the world were also placed there.
Including a Russian Moskvich, each represents a separate piece of history.
However, the brand and model of the car is actually of little importance.
Rust and decomposition have given them new colorways and texture.
Rather, Fröhlich’s message is that Mother Nature is the great equalizer.
And cars aren’t the only thing on display, with an aircraft, horse and cart, English phone box and even a part of the Berlin Wall.
The controversial art project also features an original part of the Berlin wall.
Even the bottles popped during the celebrations when its opened are piled into an old Citroën, becoming part of the story.
It’s worth noting that oil and other contaminents were removed before the cars were put in situ to ensure that the project would not detract from the natural beauty of the site,
The park is only open on Sundays for a fee, and you have to book in advance.
