Fundstücke – Graniträder Installation

Scattered fragments, silent witnesses. Here at the Fundstücke – Graniträder installation, time seems to fold upon itself. The Fundstücke – Graniträder, created in 1985 by Raffael Rheinsberg, isn’t just an art piece. It’s a poignant echo of Berlin’s turbulent past. The installation’s granite wheels, some with metal axles and gears, are more than just sculptural elements. They are fragments of wheel drums from a destroyed gravel crusher. These remnants, along with granite boulders, form an irregular circle on the “Tableau der Erinnerung” (Tableau of Memory). An axis, marked by the arrangement of these wheels, cuts through the circle. This axis leads outward, pointing towards a granite inscription that reads “Geodätischer Mittelpunkt Berlin” (Geodetic Center of Berlin). The artist incorporated sandstone blocks with tool marks, adding another layer of texture and meaning. These fragments, sourced from the Anhalter Bahnhof, a railway station damaged in World War II and later demolished, carry the weight of history. The Fundstücke – Graniträder stands as a powerful reminder of destruction and resilience, a tangible link to a bygone era. The installation’s seemingly haphazard arrangement invites contemplation. It encourages reflection on the Anhalter Bahnhof’s fate and its place in Berlin’s story. The Fundstücke – Graniträder isn’t merely an artwork. It is a conversation between past and present, a testament to the enduring power of memory.