A redevelopment of Bischofplatz in Dresden-Neustadt had been planned for the summer of 2012. The square was to once again become an attractive urban space for visitors to experience. Herr Ehrler, a freelance garden and landscape architect, informed us that a decision had been made at a town hall meeting to use the “billiard theme”. Along with the green fitments, the character of the trendy pub quarter was to be seized upon through the use of 7 large billiard balls on a grass field.
After various consultations with a metalworker and a mould-maker, Zimmer.Obst gave Herr Mertens (Plastik und Formbau company) the assignment to fashion the 7 balls out of GFP material, each having an external diameter of approximately 125-130 cm. They were then given a lacquer coating in the basic billiard ball colors at an automotive body shop and transported to Dresden. Here, street artists from the graffiti scene were able to enhance them with the suitable decorative motifs before their final mounting.

The following billiard balls were created:

i. A monochrome billiard ball in a basic color and in the original round form.
ii. For the “Experience at Second Sight” rendition, a “globe” was fashioned with a slightly convex modeling of the continents: Blue = blue planet, plus a position marker identifying Dresden and an indication of the earth’s axial position at 23.5 degrees.
iii. A ball of holes interspersed with various holes and full-length round tubes for looking through or rolling small balls through (a game of marbles).
iv. A rigid sitting ball, a ball with a modeled seat + handles.
v. A wiggle ball on three rocking springs with an accessible interior.
vi. A rotatable semispherical ball with a shaped seat and handles on a swivel joint.
vii. A climbing ball with depressions – both inward and outwardly shaped - for gripping purposes.