"Synergy" - art from a lofty height
Erlangen, Jan. 26, 2023 - Two sculptures by Cologne-based artist Philipp Dreber have recently gone on display at the HI ERN headquarters on the South Campus in Erlangen. The project is sponsored by the Free State of Bavaria as part of the "Kunst am Bau" program.
Two shiny two-meter-high steel spheres that merge and form a single unit. In contrast, another sphere whose outer sphere seems to crack and reveals the view of a smaller sphere inside, like an indivisible core.
What is described here are the two sculptures "Synergie2" and "Synergie3" by the artist Philipp Dreber, which have recently been on display in Erlangen in front of the headquarters and in the courtyard of HI ERN.
When art learns to fly: Recording of the set-up at HI ERN headquarters.
(Copyright: Philipp Dreber)
Art on the building ("Kunst am Bau")
The works of the Cologne sculptor were the winning entries in the "Begegungen" art competition. The eight-member jury consisted of representatives of Forschungszentrum Jülich, HI ERN, independent art experts, artists and the building owner. The jury evaluated the submitted works under the aspects of artistic design, the design idea and the central theme, the spatial quality in terms of architecture and façade, the examination of the function of the HI ERN and the research activities of the users, as well as compliance with the specifications of the competition text.
The artist's own theme of "synergy" was to be adequately translated into an artistic design that would appropriately address the spatial design of the entrance area and courtyard.
The measure is funded by the Free State of Bavaria. According to Art. 3 of the Bavarian Constitution, Bavaria is a "cultural state". The constitution specifically obliges the state and municipalities to promote art and science. Therefore, the Free State of Bavaria supports contemporary visual artists within the framework of Kunst am Bau. Currently, up to 2% of the cost of major construction projects by the state is earmarked for art in architecture, insofar as this is justified by the purpose and significance of the project. In this way, a continuously growing stock of art objects is created throughout Bavaria. However, the state's cultural obligation also imposes a duty to care for and preserve works of art.
About the artist
The Cologne-based sculptor Philipp Dreber works as a visual artist and designer. In his multi-dimensional installations and sculptures, he combines physical phenomena and cultural-social issues and places them in a relationship of tension.
His installations in the context of the Kunst-am-Bau projects are meant to reveal themselves to the viewers, to be accessible, to open a dialogue with them.
His work has been shown in exhibitions at home and abroad, including Daegu Art Museum (South Korea), Kyoto Art Center (Japan), Interart.nl (Netherlands), Marta Herford Museum, Glasmuseum Immenhausen and Faculty of Design of Unisinos in Porto Alegre (Brazil).
