Simon Starling

Zum Brunnen

February 27th - August 14th 2015, LOK

Sustainability, environmental and economic systems—these topics, which are not only relevant in light of the very current issue of climate change, are at the center of the works of the English artist Simon Starling. His idiosyncratic projects deal with cycles of use, the surprising transformations of everyday things, and the related ideological and aesthetic reevaluations.
The occasion for the exhibition in St. Gallen is an unusual art project by Starling that links Lake Constance with the city of St. Gallen. Entitled Fountain, this major public project redeploys original elements from the recently refurbished Broderbrunnen, a fountain located in the center of St. Gallen that was created by the sculptor August Bösch (1857–1911) in 1896 in memory of the establishment of a lake water supply system for the cantonal capital. Starling will produce selfcontained, climate-controlled units that will allow these fragile historical sculptures to be put back on public display and in turn trace the path from the water source at Lake Constance to the heart of St. Gallen.