Meret Oppenheim fountain, Spiral fountain at Waisenhausplatz, Bern, Switzerland.
The Meret Oppenheim fountain is a tall concrete column on Waisenhausplatz in Bern, with water running down it in a spiral through tin channels. Moss, plants and grasses have settled in the channels, and long icicles form there in winter. The strongly calciferous water has produced large tufa blocks on the fountain, which the city removes when they risk falling.
Swiss artist Meret Oppenheim created this fountain, which was officially opened in 1983 as one of her major late-career works. Its creation coincided with a growing interest in integrating art installations into urban public spaces across Europe.
The fountain's nickname and reception are part of its story: Bern residents long debated the work in the old town, and critics mockingly called it the exhaust pipe of the parking garage beneath Waisenhausplatz. Meret Oppenheim intended the moss and grasses that settled in the tin channels, so the planting is part of the work rather than neglect.
The fountain sits on a central public square that is easy to reach on foot and accessible to all visitors at any time. The location serves as a natural landmark when navigating through the city center.
The fountain's appearance shifts with the seasons as minerals deposit and vegetation grows on its surface, making it look different with each visit. This natural transformation turns the sculpture into a living work that evolves continuously through weather and time.
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