Initially working as a stonemason in Düren, Ulrich Rückriem had his first solo exhibition at the Leopold-Hoesch-Museum in 1964, where he also portrayed the then director Dr. Heinrich Appel.
His dolomite block from the Anröchte quarry occupies a central place in front of the museum. Set up in 2011 as part of the "Hoeschplatz Sculpture Project," the "Ursprung" makes the surface appear uneasy due to splits in the stone.