In late June 2022 a proposal was submitted for an art-for-architecture competition for a school in Worms, the Karmeliterschule. An object entitled “Wir malen selbst” (We do the painting ourselves), for which every pupil can take part in the final design, is to be installed in the schoolyard.
22-07-010
in the surroundings
(photomontage)
22-07-011
in the surroundings
(photomontage)
22-07-012
The schoolchildren paint. Everyone joins in. Everyone contributes to the painting. The art concept coordinates these contributions and combines them into an aesthetic and coherent whole. By ordering them. And by means of colour.
4 classes are represented in the form of 24 stelae, organised into six groups of four according to the six age cohorts. They depict development and dynamism through rotational movement. This creates a walk-in sculptural installation: it is possible to walk through it and stop at its centre.
The rotational movement is reinforced by a colour narrative that is generated by the individual stages of the colour circle. The colour circle is not closed, but has a beginning and an end, just as the classes for each age group have a beginning and an end. In this open colour circle, the colour yellow is absent (for chromatic reasons, taking account of the colour atmosphere of the façade). The chromatic sequence makes it possible to gain a different view of the object from every side.
Each class now has its stele, identified by its position and colour. And each stele carries the painted contributions from the class. From top to bottom, in alphabetical order the pupils appear by means of extremely simple, drawing-like abbreviations on an area measuring 18 by 20 cm in each case. Each class paints in its own colour, which is coordinated with the colour of the stele. Although the pupils follow a colour scheme, so that the whole is coherent, beyond that they have complete freedom. They can add a pattern, a sign, a representation or letters. The school has an opportunity to prepare this painting in the art lessons and to provide impulses for it. The stelae are painted on the school premises. For this purpose a suitable work tent is set up in a “green classroom”. According to a sequence planned in detail, all individual paintings are added within a few days.
The result is a diverse representation of youthful individuals, a clear depiction of the community of their school class, a comprehensive and structured representation of a school community.
The fundamental purpose of art for architecture is identification. Especially in this case, because the young people find their own selves. They also gain an opportunity to make a statement to the outside world. The message of this work of art is: WE.