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“Boule-Spiel”: A New Piece of Art on Campus

You have probably already noticed it – the University of Bremen has a new piece of art on campus. For a while now, “Boule-Spiel” by the artist Bernd Uiberall has stood in front of the administration building in the Garden of Nations.

It previously stood in the entry area of the former Bremen Landesbank in the Kohlhökerstraße, Viertel district. It was installed by the artist and Team Grünplan there in 1983. Thanks to the support of the real estate owner, the cultural department, and the city planning office, the piece of art was able to be relocated to the campus. “We are extremely happy that the artwork has found a new home with us,” says the Director of Finance and Administration of the University of Bremen, Frauke Meyer. “It is a welcome addition to our Garden of Nations which is very popular among students and staff for a break.”

Sculpture Ensemble

Boule-Spiel” is a sculpture ensemble comprised of several parts with a total of eight spheres varying in size and run marks made out of sandstone. Bernd Uiberall was born in Bassum, studied art at Bremen University of the Arts between 1963 and 1968, and worked as a freelance artist in North Germany. There are five pieces of his work in public spaces in Bremen alone.

Not Easy to Transport

In terms of craftsmanship, it was certainly a challenge to move the granite spheres, which each weigh up to 1.5 tons, from the Kohlhöcker Straße to the university. An extra sand bed was prepared on the loading area of a truck for the transport. The entire planning and erection process of the piece of art was carried out by the Bremen Schreckenberg studio on behalf of the cultural department and city planning. Subsequently, the project leaders at the University of Bremen took on the execution and organization of work on campus.

Thank You to the City

“Today is a good day,” says Thomas Flege from the Bernd Uiberall Foundation. “We would like to thank Bremen City for its dedication in ensuring that ‘Boule-Spiel’ by Bernd Uiberall continues to be available to the general public and is preserved.” The new location allows a new perspective of the artwork, which now appears in a new light. “We hope that the University of Bremen and all observers have fun when rediscovering the game of boules as ‘stones as shadows of light’,” states Flege.

Stroke of Luck

The new location is also a stroke of luck for the city’s cultural department, which is responsible for art in the public sector. “Bernd Uiberall’s work can be seen at several public locations in the city and the boules balls - as the largest piece and a special ensemble - are of great significance,” explains Cultural State Councilor Carmen Emigholz. “Knowing that the ensemble is now in a place where it is far more visible, offers artistic stimulus for many young people, and can flourish in an entirely different manner, is cultural gain.” Art in public spaces, which was realized for the first time in a German city in Bremen - incidentally at around the same time that the university was established, shows its continual actuality here.

Garden of Nations: Symbol of Worldwide Connection

Boule-Spiel” is located in a special place on campus: the Garden of Nations, which opened in 2010 and was based on an idea from the Bremen Consular Corps. The three different types of cherry trees blossom at different times of the year and symbolize the idea of the garden as a connection between the University of Bremen and countries across the globe.

 

Further Information:

www.uiberall.org 

 

Contact:

Meike Mossig
Deputy Head of the Administrative Unit for University Communication and Marketing
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-60168
Email: mmossigprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de     

Thomas Flege
Bernd Uiberall Foundation
Phone: +49 176 76189329
Email: infoprotect me ?!uiberallprotect me ?!.org  

Nicole Nowak
Free Hanseatic City of Bremen
Senator’s Office for Culture
Unit 12 - Consultant on Visual Art and Art in the Public Sector
Phone: +49 361-59799
Email: Nicole.Nowakprotect me ?!kultur.bremenprotect me ?!.de

Men and women stand in front of large granite stone balls on a green area in front of a building
They all contributed to the fact that the new piece of art is now located on the University of Bremen campus (from the left): architect Jens Behnken-Mross (university), Stephan Lauck (Trümper&Wessels construction company), Thomas Flege (Uiberall Foundation), Dr. Ingmar Lähnemann (Bremen Cultural Department), Administrative Department Head Hans-Joachim Orlok (university), Wilhelm Petry (Bremen City development team), University Director of Finance and Administration Frauke Meyer, and Nicole Nowak (Bremen Cultural Department).
Large granite stone balls are scattered on a green area in front of a building
“Boule-Spiel” is a sculpture ensemble comprised of several parts with a total of eight spheres varying in size and run marks made out of sandstone. In terms of craftsmanship, it was certainly a challenge to move the granite spheres, which each weigh up to 1.5 tons, from the Kohlhöcker Straße to the university.