“Kugellager oder runde Steine” a phrase that rolls off the tongue. Don’t you think? It’s the name of this intriguing artwork right before our eyes.
This isn’t just any artwork. It’s a three-part public art installation by the renowned American conceptual artist Lawrence Weiner. Each part is a phrase etched into the pavement. The phrase in German is “Kugellager oder runde Steine zum Rollen gebracht ausserhalb was ist”. It means “Ball bearings or round stones made to roll outside of what there is”. Isn’t that a thought-provoking statement?
The project was part of the “Kunst Öffentlichkeit Zürich” research project. The project aimed to develop the phenomenon of art in public spaces. That’s why the project is displayed across three different squares in Zurich. The city didn’t pay for the artwork itself. Only material and installation costs amounted to approximately 30000 francs.
Each section measures approximately 3 x 2 meters. The lettering is about 15 centimeters high. The letters are laser cut into the pavement and then filled with asphalt. It’s a subtle yet powerful presence.
Weiner chose three languages for this work. The English translation is “Ball bearings or round stones made to roll outside of what there is.” The Italian version is “Cuscinetti a sfera o ciottoli levigati fatti rotolare al di fuori da ciò che è”. The multilingual approach ensures that the artwork transcends language barriers. It makes the meaning accessible to everyone. Regardless of their linguistic background.
The significance goes beyond simple aesthetics. Weiner uses language as his artistic medium. He suggests that things outside our existing knowledge can be set in motion. He even referenced great thinkers from Zurich. Like Albert Einstein James Joyce and Lenin. These people pushed boundaries. They made the world move. Just like the stones in this artwork literally move.
So stand here. Look at the “Kugellager oder runde Steine”. Let the words resonate. Reflect on how this art makes you reconsider what you know. Think about what can be put into motion. What’s outside your realm of possibility? What’s next?