“berliner block”, Gerhard Trieb

13th art project, Salzburg Walk of Modern Art: Gerhard Trieb, “berliner block” Mirabell Gardens.

The “berliner block” by Gerhard Trieb in the Mirabell Gardens shows an almost cube-shaped block made of Krastal marble with a milled linear mesh that reflects the artist's exploration of the cube and the tension of the relief.

A world made of lines

After pausing for a couple of years, the Walk of Modern Art was expanded again with the addition of the “berliner block”. The focal point of Austrian artist Gerhard Trieb’s work is the cube. Into his blocks, he cuts a right-angled linear network of varying widths and depths, finally turning to a chisel to add individual touches. What we are left with in the end is the intrinsic tension of the relief.

Geometry of art – art of geometry

The berliner block in Salzburg is part of a sculptural cycle which was created from 1995 to 2005. The dimensions of this block, created out of Krastal marble, are 99x88x88 cm. As such, it isn’t strictly speaking a cube per se, yet it still has the full impact of a geometrical shape, together with all of the associated implications.

About the artist

Gerhard Trieb is an Austrian sculptor whose works often deal with space, order and structure. Trieb's sculptures are characterized by a reduced, geometrically clear formal language, which nevertheless always encourages questioning and further thought.

The idea behind the Walk of Modern Art

Initiated by the Salzburg Foundation, the Walk of Modern Art makes contemporary art accessible to everyone. From 2002 to 2019, international artists such as James Turrell, Marina Abramović, Markus Lüpertz, and Brigitte Kowanz created works in the field of tension between history, urban architecture, and contemporary art.

Practical information

- The artworks of the Walk of Modern Art Salzburg are freely accessible.
- Duration of the Walk of Modern Art Salzburg: approx. 1.5-2 hours
- Guided tours