Moses fountain by Professor Ernst Fuchs

Bärnbach

A work by Prof. Ernst Fuchs: fantastic realism made of glass, gold, and vision.

Not far from the St. Barbara Church in Bärnbach is another impressive piece of public art: the Moses Fountain by Prof. Ernst Fuchs. Built in 1998 as a biblical complement to the Hundertwasser project, the seven-sided water basin unites spirituality, symbolism, and artistic imagination in an exceptional language of forms.

The fountain tells scenes from the life of Moses: Water jets spray from seven corners at staggered intervals onto the golden Moses statue in the center. The figure stands on a pedestal made of 3600 glass prisms by Swarovski and is covered with 400 pieces of gold leaf. Around the basin, finely crafted reliefs depict motifs from the Old Testament.

For the design, over 430,000 native pebbles, 144,000 glass mosaic pieces, and large boulders from the Oberdorf coal strip mine were used – a interplay of nature, craftsmanship, and vision.

Prof. Ernst Fuchs, co-founder of the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism, created a work here that resonates far beyond the region. The Moses Fountain is not only a place for viewing art but also a sensually experienceable example of fantastical contemporary art in the heart of the Graz experience region.