Die Spur Sculpture

Seven intertwined steel beams reach towards the sky. This is Die Spur, a sculpture by Robert Schad. It was created in 2018. It was finally installed here in Freiburg im Breisgau in April 2021. Die Spur translates to “The Trace” or “The Track”. It’s a fitting name. The sculpture seems to trace an invisible path through the air, a path of life. Die Spur stands between the Institute for Disease Modelling and Targeted Medicine and the Breisacher Straße. The institute uses data analysis to develop individualized therapies. The sculpture, with its dynamic lines, seems to echo this pursuit of personalized medicine, each twist and turn representing a unique life journey. Schad’s design won a competition held by the Baden-Württemberg Art Commission. The state mandates that about 1% of construction costs be invested in art. In this case, it was almost 200,000 euros. The sculpture’s home, the Institute for Disease Modelling, was intended to be occupied later in 2021. The sculpture’s creation was a truly international effort. It was fabricated from Corten steel in Maia, Portugal, where Schad has collaborated with a steel construction company since 2007. The massive artwork, weighing 14.5 tons and composed of seven separate sections, required a team of Portuguese workers for assembly. Even the installation had its challenges. Schad, who lived in Freiburg until 1996, almost couldn’t travel from his home near Besançon, France for the installation due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Thankfully, a solution was found. He was able to oversee the assembly. He even cooked for the workers at their shared accommodation in nearby Hofsgrund. Look closely at the material. The Corten steel is designed to rust. This creates a protective layer. It gives Die Spur its distinctive reddish-brown hue. The rust also connects the sculpture to the earth, symbolizing the cycle of life and decay. Die Spur is more than just a static object. It’s a conversation between art, science, and the human experience.