TIME LABYRINTH
In the immediate vicinity of the Ludwigsburg train station stands the industrial complex “Franck Areal,” a former chicory coffee factory that ceased operations in 2018. The complex, with its imposing scale and historical significance, was partially acquired by the city in 2020.
In 2021, Neuland, a festival financed and organized by the City of Ludwigsburg and the Wüstenrot Foundation, invited various artists and institutions to submit proposals for art installations at the “Franck Areal.”
The installation Time Labyrinth represents the art school Labyrinth in Ludwigsburg and aims to create a museum instance where the works of the youth art studio (ages 14-18), which I lead, can be exhibited.
Ten young students were invited to reflect on the past, present, and future of the “Franck Areal” complex. They researched its history, observed its current state, and envisioned its future. Each student produced two works: one depicting the past and the other a vision of the future, incorporating elements that should be preserved.
The installation consists of two parts: a labyrinth marked on the ground with duct tape in various colors, leading from the outside to the inside. The outer section displays works that represent the future, while the inner section exhibits the information gathered from the past that shaped the works about the future. For visitors, moving through the labyrinth from future to past serves as a metaphor for the students’ research process.
To complement the installation, given the monumental proportions of the space (16 meters high) and the labyrinth concept, a “space-within-a-space” structure was created. This light structure, covering 30 square meters and rising nearly 12 meters high, is made of strips of crepe paper.
Time Labyrinth integrates seamlessly with the vast dimensions of its surroundings, while simultaneously creating a spatial experience for the viewer, evoking both physical and conceptual movement through the future, present, and past of the site.
