circolo massimo Sculpture

Circolo massimo' consists of a closed circle with a diameter of 479cm, of quadrants of curved crash barriers. Mounted on eight metal posts, the sculpture of industrially manufactured components visually dominates the space. The material - galvanised steel with the characteristic profile - is easily recognized for its use as a protective barrier in traffic. The dimensions of the work are determined by the dimensions of the surrounding architecture and have merged to comprise the installation. The circular shape appears to be an independent art object, but it creates an atmosphere that extends across the material boundaries of its geometric construction and fills the space. On the one hand, the object is the product of contemporary technology, while on the other hand it refers to our current ways of mobility and being on the move. Furthermore it can be seen as a metaphor for the tractability of the individual in contemporary society. Alienated from its original context and shaped to form a ring, the crash barrier attains a new creative power as a specific spatial intervention. It evokes a variety of visual associations as well as physical experiences. The weighty installation occupies, and excludes the spectators from, a major part of the exhibition space, forcing them to circle the sculpture on a narrow circumambulation. Text: Emanuel Straessle