Shrine Of Oblivion

Deep within the vast Völklinger Hütte, a former 19th-century ironworks, lies an unexpected sanctuary. The Shrine of Oblivion (2024) by High on Type creates a mesmerizing contrast to its industrial surroundings through an architectural intervention that transforms a hidden space into a sacred environment. This carefully constructed wooden installation, adorned with intricate calligraphic patterns, offers visitors a moment of contemplative escape during the Urban Art Biennial.

While the Völklinger Hütte stands as a monument to industrial might, forced labor, and material production, this installation presents its antithesis – a space for immaterial experience and spiritual reflection. The psychedelic patterns and experimental calligraphy envelop visitors in a dazzling environment that alters perception of time and space. Created through collective craftsmanship by a multidisciplinary team of calligraphers, visual artists, woodworkers, and fabrication specialists, the installation demonstrates how the same principles of disciplined labor and technical expertise that built the factory can be channeled toward creating moments of transcendent beauty.