Unendlichen Schleife

Max Bill often started from mathematical forms. When he conceived this work in 1935, however, he was completely unaware of the mathematical explanation for this shape, the Möbius strip. He learned about it later, and was satisfied that the premise of his work was pure mathematics.

The artist himself spoke of a concrete rather than an abstract image, because the physical form literally depicts “endlessness” without the need for figurative representation.

This artwork makes one contemplate an endlessly repeating movement. The choice of materials allows the sculpture to capture the light as it changes throughout the day: this in turn is another endless cyclical movement.

Max Bill was a Swiss sculptor, architect, and graphic designer. He experimented with various movements from the 1930s onward, including Cubism, Dadaism, and concrete abstraction. The artist sought a universal visual language that any viewer could understand.