12.06.2018

Genuine sand work

CHIO Aachen art measuring 70x70 metres

Martin Stockberg says he never used to play in the sandpit as a child. He grew up in the country, in the forests and the meadows. Today the graduate designer from Aachen enjoys making art out of sand. Big art. Very big art. His current piece of art at the CHIO Aachen showgrounds measures 70x70 metres.

Martin Stockberg says he never used to play in the sandpit as a child. He grew up in the country, in the forests and the meadows. Today the graduate designer from Aachen enjoys making art out of sand. Big art. Very big art. His current piece of art at the CHIO Aachen showgrounds measures 70×70 metres.

A bird’s eye view is necessary to recognise what the 52-year-old, who is only armed with a rake, is drawing in the sand on the warm-up area in front of the Deutsche Bank Stadium. After almost four hours he is ready. The result: the CHIO Aachen logo, the pictogram of the five disciplines Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Four-in-Hand Driving and Vaulting, accompanied by the words “CHIO Aachen 2018”. Full of concentration, the designer does his rounds, almost as if meditating he pulls the rake beside and behind him. Here is the video of the piece of art (Facebook).

He hardly needs any preparation time. He measures the ground, does a sketch and practices one or two strokes. The rest is craftsmanship and a keen sense for the right direction. His pieces of art are intended to serve as “interrupters” that tear people out of their everyday routines, make them curious and attract attention – “I am not doing anything different than in my profession as a designer and advertiser,” said Martin Stockberg. Transience is simply part of art. The art lasts up until the next shower or at the CHIO Aachen showgrounds up until the next horse. He often also carves drawings in the sand on beaches, then the pieces of art last until the next tide.

www.instagram.com/martinstockberg
www.stockberg.de/landart

 

 

CHIO Aachen art measuring 70x70 metres. Photo: Martin Stockberg

CHIO Aachen art measuring 70x70 metres. Photo: Martin Stockberg