Safety Cones (for Herford)

The Safety Cones at the Bergertor serve as the starting point to Fünf Tore / Fünf Orte, an art project designed to raise awareness of Herford’s neglected historic city gates. The historic gates have always served as points of departure and arrival, connecting the city to the rest of the world. As such, five international artists were invited to participate in the project, each representing a country with close economic ties to Herford.

Already considered a pioneer of land and body/performance art, Dennis Oppenheim began producing public sculptures in the 1990s. The Safety Cones (for Herford) represent conventional traffic cones that have been enlarged, making them look like sculptures or even architectural structures. This building-like appearance is underscored by blue windows that are lit at night, suggesting that the conical forms are dwellings. However, the intense orange color also signals danger, alerting viewers to keep their distance. As such, the work sparks questions about living in a city defined by transport and mobility.