2023

öffentlich zugänglich

Haus für Kinder in der Von-Frays-Straße 52, 81245 München

7 pulverbeschichtete Metall-Cut-Outs, 8,1 x 3,3 m

Architecture: Zwischenräume Architekten+Stadtplaner, München

Landscape architecture: Lohrer Hochrein Landschaftsarchitekten und Stadtplaner, München

Photos: Peter Schinzler

Text: Julia Anna Wittmann

Around the age of one year, children begin to draw, paint, and scribble. It starts with single, random lines that develop into circles and wild zigzags. Around the age of three, the first recognizable constructs appear in children’s drawings, leaving viewers to wonder what the image is supposed to be. The crazy zigzags say nothing specific, yet at the same time they speak a universal language that all children understand.

The Ireland-based artist Anja Buchheister takes this childlike sign language as the starting point for her colorful installation on the façade of the newly built Haus für Kinder (House for Children) on Von Frays Strasse. Romping about are red, blue, yellow, and green figures, fluctuating between image and text, framed by the roof of green leaves provided by the neighboring trees above the entrance to the center.

Inscribe is based on an intensive exchange with children from the existing daycare center across the way. Although the children from this center on Paul Gerhardt Allee lost half of their garden to the new building, they have gained new neighbors and playmates. In preparation for Inscribe, eight children of varied ages were invited to draw “welcome” pictures. Together with the artist, the children spent an afternoon thinking about what the construction site in their garden meant and how the new children could be greeted.

Out of the treasure trove of children’s drawings done that day, the artist extracted seven fragments, which she traced over and re-arranged. The drawing that resulted was enlarged a great deal, turned into a metal application in bright, vibrant colors, and affixed to the wooden façade of the House for Children. What were formerly two-dimensional drawings now stand out as a sculptural contrast against the wooden boards below them and, at the same time, clarify the building’s function at first glance.

For Inscribe, the artist composed a welcoming greeting that fans out across the front façade so that both big and little people can enjoy.