9 Drei Stelen
9 Drei Stelen stands just east of Ulm’s north entrance, forming a sculpture from three upright Turkish marble slabs. Each stele encloses a fragmentary, rough interior within a strict geometric frame and polished outer surface.
Axel F. Otterbach created the work in 1989, combining traditional handcraft with visible mechanical cuts and profiles. Chisels, files and grinding stones shaped the final surfaces, while cutting discs and compression hammers remain part of its making. The three forms explore dissolution, thinning the stone that represents growing nature until it approaches fragility.
Light passes through the gaps between the slabs, revealing the delicate inner shapes against the smooth marble. Wheelchair access makes this outdoor artwork easier to approach beside the northern entrance.
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- Ulm
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