The work of art Zollstock (Folding Rule) has now been installed on the campus of Mainz University of Applied Sciences. The sculpture was created as part of the Kunst am Bau (Art in Architecture) competition commissioned by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, the winner of which was the Berlin artist collective inges idee in June 2021. The design shows a dynamic figure that appears to take all the steps to the future main entrance of the new building in one giant step.
The six-meter-high sculpture made of sheet steel depicts a figure made of an oversized, unfolded yellow folding rule. Its open form invites diverse interpretations. According to the artists’ intention, the folding rule as an omnipresent measuring instrument serves as a symbol for measuring, determining, and verifying – a visual metaphor that connects the three schools of Mainz University of Applied Sciences: Design, Engineering, and Business. The sculpture is intended to reference creative design, technical precision, and an economic mindset in equal measure.
Photos: Sven-Helge Czichy | Mainz University of Applied Sciences
The folding rule is meant to stand as a humorous and dynamic bridge between analog traditions and digital developments – and symbolizes how dynamically Mainz University of Applied Sciences is striding into the future.
Kunst am Bau is a state-funded program where a fixed percentage of the construction budget for public building projects is allocated for artistic installations around, on, or in the building. The aim is to bring architecture and art into a dialogue and culturally enhance public spaces through artistic contributions.
