Joachim Kuhlmann (Germany)
Joachim Kuhlmann (Germany) »Point de Vue« – Installation with stone monoliths
“Point de Vue” describes a perspective on Baroque garden art.
This term from art history became the starting point and title of my art project. In this project, the observer’s gaze is directed towards a group of natural stones in the forest, which anchor the earth-historical context at this site in a complex manner. I was able to obtain the services of geologist Dr. Jutta Weber of Geopark Odenwald as scientific adviser, who significantly drove the project forward, along with support from Geopark.
The path begins at the viewing platform on Ludwigshöhe mountain. Geopark information signs flank the narrow path to the “Point de Vue” and inform visitors about the earth history of the Odenwald forest and the Upper Rhine Graben (trenches). The track leads down the slope for approx. 600 meters to a stone circle with a diameter of 30 meters.
This east-west axis is designed as a meditative path with geological and intellectual-historical information, which puts visitors in the right frame of mind to consider the special features of the place and questions on the dimensions and relations of time and space as well as nature and culture.
The path ends at the stone circle with rocks from the Paleozoic period. The stone monoliths you can see there are tangible signs of earth memory and bear witness to the creation of the region 32 0 million years ago. For the observer, the dynamic life system earth, the coupling of animate and inanimate nature are witnesses of the development of the history of the earth.
In the center of the circle eight monoliths form axes of vision which are perceived differently depending on their location. The formation of the stones within the space gives us the impression that it is ambiguous, and reminds us of the planetary motions.
The “Point de Vue” is located at the edge of an incline, which used to be the shore of an ancient sea with a subtropical climate 15 millions years ago. If you assume a spiritual state there, you might be able to sense an oceanic feeling, a brewing of elementary forces, the simmering of the magma…
Looking at this timeline, questions arise such as where did man come from and where is he going.
