In August 2018 an art concept was produced for the fencing of school premises in Trier. The city government of Trier had invited submissions for an art-for-architecture competition for a school, the Auguste Victoria Gymnasium, in the Old Town of Trier. The concept entitled Wachsendes Erkennen (Growing Insight) envisages painting the existing, restored fence. The posts set at regular intervals bear colour scales. When viewed diagonally with foreshortening, the colour effect is intensified.
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effect
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the sequence of
40 coloured posts
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The art concept Wachsendes Erkennenreflects the purpose and mission of the school. In a high school, passing on knowledge is less important than acquiring critical awareness, a wider horizon and thus the ability to gain insights. Insights are based on differentiated thought. Insights are possible through making distinctions. In this spirit, the art concept provides ways of distinguishing. The medium of distinction is colour.
Two vertical colour scales, running parallel, display colour tones that are identical, i.e. indistinguishable, at their base. As they continue, the scales move in different colour directions. The contrasts thus increase. Out of indistinguishability emerges distinguishability, which becomes clearer and clearer. In this way, the ability to distinguish is represented in this development. It becomes evident to the eye that gaining insights is subject to a process. This process can comprehend the entire period of schooling. Growing insight accompanies attendance at school.
The colour scales are repeated in the sequence of the fence. They are applied at intervals in which the slight difference is not immediately noticeable. The gradations of colouration are only apparent when the whole is viewed. From this, the conclusion can be drawn that connections are only perceptible from a distance, when an overall view is taken.
The meaning conveyed by this art concept also includes an aesthetic effect. The fence becomes a sequence of colour accents that communicate moderation on the one hand, and order, liveliness and dynamism on the other hand.