All eyes are sure to be on the ellipsoidal pendulum created by Munich designer Ingo Maurer in the North Foyer of Hall 12.
It is likely that visitors will first notice a red light line on the floor tracing the oscillation of the pendulum. Looking upwards, they will then see a striking light art object defining the upper space in the hall foyer, which is roughly 18 metres high. Unlike a Foucault pendulum, the pendulum in this installation moves up and down on a vertical plane.
The installation travels five metres upwards while oscillating. At its resting position, the lower edge of the pendulum is three metres above the ground. The pendulum cycle is divided into five stages and lasts around an hour.
How the artwork was created
In 2017, Messe Frankfurt invited submissions for a “Kunst am Bau” (Building Art) competition for the new Hall 12, which was nearing completion. Munich designer Ingo Maurer won over the panel of judges, who voted unanimously for his expansive and surprising accentuation of the foyer. Ingo Maurer had been designing unusual lamps and lighting systems since 1966 and received several prestigious design awards, including the Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2010 and the Italian Compasso d’Oro in 2011, both for his life’s work. The designer died in 2019.