A work by Friedrich Gräsel Photo: Oliver Ohmann
By Oliver Ohmann
Do you sometimes feel the same way: You drive or walk past something, see it a thousand times and yet know nothing about it.
I felt the same way with those red tubes. They have been standing on Strasse des 17. Juni in front of a chemistry institute at the TU since 1970.
Now I finally looked it up. “Tube cubes on shafts” is the description of the work of art, which otherwise has no name, created by Friedrich Gräsel (1927-2013).
“The sculptor and designer is known for his large abstract tubular sculptures” I read on a website that deals with his work. In 1968/69 the work was created in front of the TU. Over five meters high and 12 meters wide. It consists of Eternit tubes or “asbestos cement” I read.
970 set up in front of the TU Photo: Oliver Ohmann
The red is a special signal red with the RAL color 2002.
You can also say: blood orange. Some think the artwork is reminiscent of plants, others think of raised fists.
I think it’s getting old and could do with some refurbishment. Because: I want to see it for a long time now that I know it better.