Schlange über Kreuzung, sculpture in Ludwigsburg, Germany
Snake over Crossing is a sculpture approximately 20 meters tall made of steel and plastic, suspended above the intersection of Wilhelmstrasse and Schlossstrasse. The work features a coiled serpent mounted on a tilted steel support, its bright red color and shiny finish making it clearly visible against the urban surroundings.
The artwork was created in 1992 as part of the international project Place Temptation, implemented across twelve cities to bring art into everyday urban spaces. Though originally planned as a temporary installation, Ludwigsburg decided to keep the sculpture permanently, and it underwent restoration and repainting in 2006.
The sculpture has become a gathering point where pedestrians regularly pause and look upward, fostering spontaneous moments of reflection. It demonstrates how art can weave itself into everyday city life, inviting people to engage more consciously with their surroundings and to share interpretations of what the snake might represent.
The sculpture is located at a busy street intersection in the city center and can be viewed from all angles up close since it spans over the roadway. Visitors can easily observe the work from nearby sidewalks and streets, making it an accessible artwork for passersby without requiring special arrangements to visit.
The work was purchased by Badische Landesbank for approximately 125,000 US dollars and donated to the city as a gift, a generous contribution that underscores the sculpture's importance to urban development. Initial skepticism from residents gradually transformed into acceptance and affection over the decades, demonstrating how unconventional public art can grow in appreciation over time.
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