Vacanz, Magdeburg

Vacanz is the name of a sculpture in the old town of Magdeburg.

The sculpture is located in the southern part of the city center on Magdeburger Friedensplatz, on the western side of Breite Weg.

The work was created by Irmtraud Ohme and placed in its current location in 2002. Vacanz is four meters high and consists of steel partially covered with white acrylic paint. Two large tubular steel forms angled toward each other rise from a base clad in black granite. At each of the upper ends is a smaller spiral form. With this sculpture, the artist combines her two main fields of work, metal sculpture and jewelry design. The large white forms may remind one of a frame or staples breaking apart. The smaller spirals seem like creoles or snap rings.

The tilted position of the forms represents an unstable state. At the same time, the center of the work is left open and thus vacant. It is thus intended to give the viewers space to define this center themselves. However, the work is to be understood primarily as an aesthetic object that opens up possibilities for associations.