Between 2005 and 2008, a public artwork titled «So near – So far» by Swiss light art pioneer Christian Herdeg was dismantled and disposed of from Terminal A at Zurich Airport without notifying the artist, according to public broadcaster SRF journalist Gisela Feuz.
Disappearance of Public Artworks at Zurich Airport and EWZ
The airport press office stated to SRF that the reasons for removing the installation are not documented, though they assumed new space requirements and utilization needs caused the removal. A similar fate befell Herdeg’s 1995 work «Lichtsegel», which won a competition held by the electricity works of the city of Zurich (EWZ) and hung in their main building. When Herdeg and a colleague visited to view the argon-tube and steel-cable installation, it was gone. EWZ explained to SRF that the work fell victim to a spatial redesign, noting they had consulted the Art and Architecture department beforehand. That department advised that the piece was not registered as an official art-and-architecture object, meaning no further measures were required before disposal.
Legal Obligations and Missing Inventory Records
The legal framework requires that artists be informed when their works are dismantled and offered the opportunity to take them back, according to SRF reporting. However, administrative gaps contributed to the losses. The EWZ Art and Architecture department was only established in 2001, six years after Herdeg installed «Lichtsegel» in 1995, which explains why the piece never appeared on a formal inventory list. Time also plays a critical role, as decision-makers who originally commissioned the installations in 1985 and 1995 often no longer work at those institutions, leaving current staff unaware of the works’ provenance or artistic significance.
Did you know?
Christian Herdeg, who is 84 years old and received the Zurich Canton Culture Prize in 2021, began working with neon and argon tubes in the late 1960s as one of Europe’s early explorers of light as an independent medium. Not all recent interactions end in loss; Herdeg noted to SRF that another client recently contacted him ahead of a remodel to offer the return of an 11-meter light sculpture that could no longer be integrated into the space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Christian Herdeg’s light installations removed without notice?
According to SRF, institutional renovations, missing historical documentation, and the absence of the pieces from internal art inventories led facility managers to dismantle the works without contacting the artist.
What are the legal requirements when removing public art in Switzerland?
Property owners are legally required to inform the creator when public artworks are dismantled and must offer the artist the chance to take the pieces back, as reported by SRF.
Where are the missing artworks now?
The current whereabouts of both «So near – So far» from Zurich Airport and «Lichtsegel» from the EWZ building remain entirely unknown.
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