Rote Granitplatte Sculpture

Gazing upon the Rote Granitplatte Sculpture, one might initially see only a simple arrangement of stone. But within this seemingly unassuming artwork lies a profound exploration of nature, life, and the human experience. The Rote Granitplatte Sculpture, created by Makoto Fujiwara in 1984 for the Bundesgartenschau (Federal Garden Show) in 1985, invites us to contemplate the cyclical nature of existence. Three oval, gray-yellow granite boulders, stabilized by smaller stones, are embedded in the earth. These boulders support a nearly square, red granite slab, approximately 2.1 by 2.1 meters and 40 centimeters thick. Fujiwara intentionally left the surfaces of the slab uneven. The top surface, facing the sky, is polished to a mirror sheen, reflecting the surrounding environment. The sides are semi-polished, while the bottom, facing the earth, is left rough and natural. Hidden beneath, a circular indentation is carved into the underside, a secret known only to the earth. Fujiwara described the Rote Granitplatte Sculpture as a representation of the circle of life. The rough, natural underside symbolizes our connection to nature. The polished top reflects our surroundings and how we interact with the world. The three supporting boulders, arranged in a triangle, slightly elevate the slab. This creates a sense of lightness, as if the stone is hovering above the earth. Fujiwara also included a poem, inspired by Hermann Hesse, to further illuminate the sculpture’s meaning. The poem speaks to the cyclical nature of life: beginning with nothing, accumulating, adorning, collecting, and then releasing until we return to nothing, ready to begin anew. The Rote Granitplatte Sculpture is more than just a visual experience. It is an invitation to reflect on our place within the grand cycle of existence.