The Ring, Circular sculpture at Stockholm Central Station, Sweden
The Ring is a circular sculpture at Stockholm Central Station with a seven-meter opening in the ceiling that connects the upper and lower levels. Four sculpted figures emerge from this opening, each oriented toward a different direction, creating a visual link between the two station areas.
Swedish sculptor Stig Blomberg created and installed this circular artwork in 1959 during a renovation period of the station. The four figures were designed to represent the cardinal directions and to mark the connection between the station's two main levels.
Stockholm residents call this sculpture 'spottkoppen', which means 'spit cup' in Swedish, a name that has stuck for generations. It serves as a natural gathering spot where people pause and orient themselves within the busy station.
The sculpture is located in the central hall of the station and is easy to reach from any main entrance or platform area. You can view the figures from below in the lower hall or from above through the opening, depending on which level you approach from.
Few people know that this sculpture was envisioned as a functional design that would solve a practical problem at the station while also serving as public art. The interaction between its structural purpose and artistic value makes it stand out from typical station decorations.
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