2019

öffentlich zugänglich

Städt. Berufsschule für Spedition und Touristik / Städt. Berufsschule für Lagerlogistik, Groß- und Außenhandel, beide Luisenstr. 29 / Städt. Anita-Augspurg-Berufsoberschule für Sozialwesen und Gesundheit, Brienner Str. 37. 80333 München

lackierter Stahl, Säulenelement: 800 x 200 x 200 cm, Ringe: 40 x 200 x 200 cm

Architecture: BKS & Partner Bauer Reichert Seitz Architekten, München

Landscape architecture: kübertlandschaftsarchitektur, München

Photos: Florian Holzherr

Text: Bernhart Schwenk

The two gray concrete rings with the colored interiors look like they just happened to land on the sidewalk in front of the school building. The question of how the rings got there might be answered by having a look through the glass windows of the cafeteria. Because in the courtyard behind it arises a tall pillar that could very well be the imaginary post for an oversized game of ring toss. Here, the same gray rings seemed to have reached their mark and slid down the pillar to the ground. Other rings stand or lie next to them, ready to be tossed again, at least in the imagination.

The multi-part work of art turns out to be a fanciful game of chance that aims to hit the mark again and again. The connection to everyday school life is obvious, since success in learning depends on certain factors: a favorable starting position, practice or simply talent, and last but not least, luck and chance. Success, it seems, is a question of balance.

This idea can also be applied to school as an institution, because it is called upon to accompany and constructively help to shape social change, as well as to modern school architecture in the classical surroundings of the Königsplatz. In this context, the sculptural ensemble might be reinterpreting the ancient contrapposto of the human figure—the deliberate placement of the supporting leg and a free leg, in which tension and relaxation are brought into a harmonious balance.

The artist named the work after the goddess of hope in Greek mythology. In this sense, Elpis could inspire a positive feeling about life, and—whether in school or later in one’s career—reinforce the willingness to face moments of uncertainty with calm.