"The railroad officials are so stiff, they don't know what to expect. They've never met artists before. We're in dirty clothes, but we talk on their level, not like ordinary workers. It's funny to watch their confusion. I like to puzzle people caught up with social hierarchy."

Wehowski, a 29-year-old from a small town in Bavaria, completed a three-year apprentice as a stone cutter. He financially supports himself by doing tile jobs.

"I don't like the atmosphere at art schools, and I don't like art professors. I like to organize my life by myself," said Wehowksi, showing his biggest sculpture - a soldier sticking a knife into his guts. "I guess this sculpture doesn't work so good, because I always have to explain the mesage, which is that 'nationalists like to declare themselves victims'.

"Atelierstandort Nippes is my little village. It's very quiet, very green, and I get to talk often with other artists - not for copying, but for inspiration.

"Cologne is so open. You get socially integrated somehow without wanting to. But it's not heaven."