Erdzeichen facts for kids
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The Erdzeichen (which means Earth Sign in English) is a huge artwork made on the ground at Munich Airport in Germany. It was created by the painter Wilhelm Holderied and the sculptor Karl Schlamminger. The artists wanted this earth sculpture to be like "An Island in Time." This means it's a symbol showing how time passes, connected to the powerful energy of the earth itself. This artwork, which is flat on the ground, was finished in 1995. It's similar to ancient earth sculptures and modern "Land Art" pieces, like the famous "Spiral Jetty."
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Erdzeichen: A Giant Earth Artwork
The Erdzeichen is a very large artwork. It covers an area about 270 meters long and 170 meters wide. Imagine a football field; this artwork is even bigger! It has deep grooves, or furrows, that are 3.40 meters deep. That's taller than most people! Between these furrows are tall banks made of gravel.
What Does It Look Like?
The furrows and gravel banks form interesting shapes. They start by circling a central point. Then, they continue in a straight line before making a loop. After that, they flow out into the surrounding field in wavy, uneven lines. Finally, they end at a straight line, blending into the landscape.
How Was It Made?
Creating such a large artwork needed a lot of support. About 400 people helped pay for the Erdzeichen. This was part of a special project called "Be Part of Art." An aerial photographer named Klaus Leidorf has been taking pictures of the earth sculpture since 1994. He has documented how nature and the different seasons change the artwork's look over time.
What About Its Future?
The land where the Erdzeichen is located was leased from the airport company. This agreement with Wilhelm Holderied and Karl Schlamminger was set to end on December 30, 2013. At that time, it wasn't certain if the Erdzeichen would be able to stay there.
