Time pyramid
| Time Pyramid | |
|---|---|
 Side view of the pyramid when finished. | |
| Coordinates | 48°53′03″N 10°43′17″E / 48.88417°N 10.72139°ECoordinates: 48°53′03″N 10°43′17″E / 48.88417°N 10.72139°E |
| Constructed | 1993–3183 (scheduled) |
| Type | Step pyramid |
| Height | 9.2 metres (30 ft) (when completed) |
| Base | 13.8 metres (45 ft) (when completed) |
The Time Pyramid (German: Zeitpyramide) is a work of public art by Manfred Laber under construction in Wemding, Germany. The pyramid, begun in 1993, at the 1,200th anniversary of Wemding, will take almost another 1,167 years to complete and is scheduled to be finished in the year 3183. As of 2016, the first 3 of its scheduled 120 concrete blocks have been placed.[1][2]
History
The town of Wemding dates back to the year 793 and celebrated its 1,200th anniversary in 1993. The time pyramid was conceived to mark this 1,200-year period.[1]
Concept
The pyramid, when completed in the year 3183, is scheduled to consist of 120 stone or concrete blocks, each measuring 1.2 m (3.9 ft) long, 1.2 m (3.9 ft) wide and 1.8 m (5.9 ft) tall. Adjacent blocks are separated by gaps of half a block or 0.6 m (2.0 ft). One block is scheduled to be placed every ten years, taking 1,190 years (see Fencepost error) in total.
The base layer, measuring 13.8 by 13.8 m (45 by 45 ft), will consist of 64 blocks arranged in 8 rows and 8 columns. The second layer will consist of 36 blocks, in a 6 by 6 format. The third layer will consist of 16 blocks arranged in 4 by 4. The final, fourth layer, will consist of 4 blocks, arranged in 2 by 2. A model of the final artwork is exhibited at Wemding, at the Haus des Gastes.[1]
The pyramid, as far as it exists today, is on a concrete pad on a rounded hilltop, the Robertshöhe,[3] on the northern edge of Wemding. The first block was placed in October 1993.[1] The 6.5-tonne (6.4-long-ton; 7.2-short-ton) third and most recent block was placed at 16:14 on 29 June 2013.[4]
The project's finance was mostly achieved through donations by local companies, which, for example, supplied the materials for the concrete slab for free. Additionally, the material of the blocks used is not fixed and may be altered in future generations depending on availability.[5] The project is administrated by a foundation based in Wemding.[6]
Timing
The significance of the number 12, 1,200 years and 120 stones is coincidental, with a construction date beginning in 1993 being the most practical. The reason for this is that the closest similar combinations before and after were or would have been possible only in 1633 (7 by 7, 840 years, 84 blocks) and 2443 (9 by 9, 1,650 years, 165 blocks).[1]
Artist
The project is the brainchild of the artist Manfred Laber. The project began in June 1993. The idea of the concept is to give people a sense of what the span of 1,200 years really means.[7]
Manfred Laber was born in Wemding in 1932 and studied painting at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste in Berlin in the 1950s. He has other artwork on permanent display on the Isla San Antonio, and in Alcanar, Spain, and Mormoiron, France. Alcanar is also his part-time place of residence.[8]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Conception Official Zeitpyramide website, accessed: 14 December 2010
- ↑ Die Stadt der Zeitpyramide (The city of the time pyramid) (German) Official Wemding website, accessed: 14 December 2010
- ↑ Ein Wolf an der Wiege und ein Gebäude mit 1200 Jahren Bauzeit (German) Augsburger Allgemeine, published: 4 September 2010, accessed: 14 December 2010
- ↑ Denkmal oder Utopie? Der dritte Dekadenstein auf der Wemdinger Robertshöhe ist gesetzt, Helmut Bissinger
- ↑ Zeitpyramide (German) Official Zeitpyramide website, accessed: 14 December 2010
- ↑ Stiftung Wemdinger Zeitpyramide (German) Official Zeitpyramide website, accessed: 14 December 2010
- ↑ Spatenstich für Projekt des Künstlers Manfred Laber (German) Official Zeitpyramide website, accessed: 14 December 2010
- ↑ Biographie Manfred Laber (German) Official Zeitpyramide website, accessed: 14 December 2010