Sandmühle, Günther Uecker
Günther Uecker
Sandmühle
DE
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Günther Uecker

Sandmühle, 1970


Dimensions
diameter: 300.0 cm
Physical Description
Sand, wood, string and electric motor
Inventory Number
St.P650
Acquisition
Acquired in 2011 with means provided by members of the board of trustees, of the executive committee of the Freunde der Schirn Kunsthalle e.V. as well as the Städelkomitee 21. Jahrhundert, property of Städelscher Museums-Verein e.V.
Status
See Parts

Texts

About the Work

Günther Uecker's gigantic apparatuses make us think of archaic activities, such as ploughing and harrowing a field. Even more, however, they remind us of the monotone repetition of a mantra, a meditative movement circling around itself. In the late 1960s, Uecker abandoned the rigorous formal language of ZERO and turned towards new content. He began to work with materials from nature, and in 1965 created his first 'Sandmill': two rods circling around a central axis. Attached to these rods are cords with knotted ends, which continuously plough through the sand. Without interruption, in constant rotation, traces are engraved in the sand and then erased again. As an observer, we can never conclude the observation of this unending movement and transformation, but can only break it off. The formation of the sand undergoes constant change, and this is precisely what interests Uecker: the demonstration of time and the changes in something which remains the same forever.

Video

  • Kunst nach 1945: Günther Uecker
    Im jüngsten Film unserer Reihe zur Gegenwartskunst im Städel begleiten wir den ZERO-Künstler Günther Uecker bei der Installation seiner kinetische Bodenskulptur „Sandmühle" (1970). Die Arbeit wurde auf Initiative von Mitgliedern des Kuratoriums und des Vorstandes der Freunde der Schirn und des Städelkomitees 21. Jahrhundert erworben. Bevor der Ankauf des Schirn-Freundeskreises ab Februar 2012 im Städel-Erweiterungsbau zur Aufführung gebracht wird, drehte die Sandmühle Anfang September ihre Runden in der Schirn Kunsthalle. Dort wurde sie vom mittlerweile über 80-jährigen Uecker eigenhändig aufgebaut. http://www.staedelmuseum.de/de#youtube

Work Data

Basic Information

Title
Sandmühle (Original Title)
Title Translation
Sandmill
Artist
Period Produced
School
Object Type
Physical Description
Sand, wood, string and electric motor
Material
Technique

Property and Acquisition

Institution
Administration
Collection
Creditline
Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main, Eigentum des Städelschen Museums-Vereins e.V.
Picture Copyright
© VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2023
Acquisition
Acquired in 2011 with means provided by members of the board of trustees, of the executive committee of the Freunde der Schirn Kunsthalle e.V. as well as the Städelkomitee 21. Jahrhundert, property of Städelscher Museums-Verein e.V.

Work Content

Motifs and References

Iconclass

Primary
  • 5 Abstract Ideas and Concepts
  • 23A4 allegorical representations of the effects of time
  • 25D23 sand (soil type)
  • 49D36 circle (~ planimetry, geometry)
Associative

Research and Discussion

Conservation and Restoration

Art-technology findings and/or documentation regarding conservation and restoration are available for this work. If interested, please contact .

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Last update

15.05.2023