Ruhender Verkehr

Ruhender Verkehr is a concrete sculpture with a complete Opel Kapitän automobile fully encased inside. The work stands 180 centimeters tall and extends about 2 meters in width and length, making it a substantial installation on the median of Hohenzollernring.

The artwork was created in 1969 by artist Wolf Vostell and originally stood in front of the Art Intermedia gallery on Domstraße. It was relocated to Hohenzollernring in 1989, where it has remained as a permanent public installation.

The sculpture shows a car completely enclosed in concrete and represents the relationship between mobility and urban space. This transformation of an everyday vehicle into a stationary monument reflects the tension between movement and stillness that visitors directly perceive when passing by.

The sculpture sits on the median of Hohenzollernring and is easily visible from the public sidewalk. Visitors can view and examine the artwork while walking along the street, and the installation remains accessible at all times without admission fees.

The automobile was gradually encased in concrete through multiple pours over several days, requiring a careful construction approach. A parking meter was intentionally installed next to the work, ironically emphasizing the permanent immobility of the enclosed vehicle.

Location: Cologne

Inception: 1969

Creator: Wolf Vostell

Height: 180 cm

Length: 220 cm

Width: 505 cm

Made from material: concrete

GPS coordinates: 50.93795,6.93933

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:41