“Why is it so colorful? Does it even fit Siemens?” What is it?”

Already during the set-up phase, there were wild discussions on the Campus. Whoever decides to create art in public space must also face the discussion about it at the same time. And from then on, it actually gets really exciting.

Together with the artists group “inges idee,” the Siemens Arts Program has developed a four-meter-high sculpture for the new Siemens Campus in Erlangen. The sculpture is named “The Entwurf”.

Veröffentlichungsrecht an Siemens überlassen. — “The Entwurf” 4 meters high photo: Erich Malter/Siemens

If one assumes that art should serve a purpose, then the question arises as to what the task of art in public space is. Should art be created for everyone? As Georg Zey from “inges idee” puts it:

“We make art in public spaces, so we have to engage with the public, otherwise you’re only engaging with the art world. Our idea has been rather to try to create at least one space that everyone can enter. Without much prior knowledge.”

This is precisely the goal the group of artists has set itself in Erlangen. They have developed a work that is intended to connect with the new Siemens Campus and the people there. In the sculpture, which is over four meters high, 65 cylinders form a human figure holding a Frisbee disc. Scattered around the campus are another 47 colored aluminum discs that are figuratively thrown out of the sculpture.

Hans Hemmert says about the work: “The Entwurf, the figure, is designing (German = entwerfen) itself. It is throwing parts of itself away. These parts give rise to something new, something that has not yet been put into words but is becoming a possible idea. That is the basic idea of a research campus and also the basis of all entrepreneurship – developing new ideas.”

The artists Georg Zey & Hans Hemmert in their studio Photo: Stefan Hoederath/Siemens

The 47 individual discs group together in some places to form small tables or stools. You can actually touch the small sculptures. Or put your coffee cup there during a break. Can a work of art be a table? Or a table a work of art? Just because the artists say so? The artists say parts of the artwork should be integrated into the everyday life of the people on the campus.

47 frisbee discs group together in some places to form a table!? photo: Erich Malter/Siemens

And maybe that is one of the most important qualities of art in public space, that one is actually “allowed” to touch the sculptures and live with them. That the artworks become part of your everyday life. The work “The Entwurf” hopefully raises more questions than it answers. Which, for me, is the most important task of an artwork.

We had the chance to make an artist portrait to show the process from the idea to the completion of the artwork and the discussion about it.

Film 👉 https://youtu.be/2pTTeU_lunA

Camera: Mischa Leinkauf

“inges idee”. The artists’ collective “inges idee” creates sculptures in public space. Works by inges idee stand in front of schools and banks worldwide and on the coasts of several continents. The sculptures often bring a smile to the faces of people who stop to look at them. The works, which are mostly three-dimensional, always relate to the specific location and the people who live and work there.

Website: https://ingesidee.de/de/

More information about the project: Siemens Arts Program