Kvadratur des Kreises / Squaring the Circle

Franz West’s work appears to be an ironic commentary on sculpture in public space. The artist welded together individual square pieces to form a yellow aluminum ring. This ring was then used to frame a cobalt-blue aluminum plate with short steel legs. There is a tree growing through a circular opening in the middle of the plate. Lighting installed under this “table” makes the combined elements look like a watery blue surface over a yellow circle.
Of course, the impossible Squaring the Circle is accomplished here. After all, the bulging circle is made up of individual squares that were joined together. There is also a square inside of the circle, which has a circle of its own. It’s as if the artist wanted to draw attention to the simplicity of the task. He would probably explain that this is precisely what is artful about it: reacting unexpectedly to a given task.