Born 1924 in Herten

resident from 1966 in Haus-Kannen died 1989

 Karl Cornelius attracted people's attention during occupational therapy through his pure and imaginative wood-carvings. It was possible to provide him with a workshop in 1983, which he quickly adorned with his carvings and paintings. Karl Cornelius didn't speak much, but because of his well-balanced, friendly personality, he enjoyed a good relationship with his fellow residents and therapists. Everybody felt good when he was nearby. Several residents were influenced by his working methods and his motifs. In his original way, he constructed and formed wooden toys, marble track games, rocking animals, ships, bird and aeroplane mobiles, often in his own design. He liked to give his objects away as presents. Karl Cornelius kept several finches and canaries in cages he had made himself. He became increasingly interested in painting, in which he used to copy from books and illustrations. One of his most beautiful works is the moving wooden model which depicts the folk song about the tragic fate of the king's two children, who never actually come together despite their love for each other: the two figures are held apart by a rotatable oval disc, which, when turned, moves them closer together, only then to bring them apart again. The sun is visible above the scene, between the clouds, and a bird flies over the river which separates them, perhaps representing the trans­porter of messages between the lovers.

 Exhibitions:

1991 Höttestift Münster

1991 Galerie Lydda, Bielefeld 1993 Meckmannshof, Münster 1993 Stadtgalerie, Münster