Device to Root Out Evil
‘Device to Root Out Evil’ is an upside-down, New England-style church built with its steeple in the ground.
It was created as a sculpture by American artist Dennis Oppenheim. Initially called ‘Church’, it was proposed to New York City’s Public Art Fund, to be located in Church Street, where the artist lived. However, it was considered too controversial and so the name was changed and the sculpture fabricated and installed as part of the 1997 Venice Biennale.
Stanford University approved the purchase of the piece in 2003, but the decision was subsequently vetoed by Stanford’s president who judged it; “inappropriate for campus.” It was later installed in a public park in Vancouver, Canada as part of the Vancouver Sculpture Biennale in 2005, but again was dogged by controversy and was subsequently relocated to the Glenbow Museum in Calgary where it was on display until 2014. It is now in the Plaza de la Puerta de Santa Catalina in Palma, Mallorca.
The 7.5m tall sculpture is fabricated from galvanized steel, perforated metal and Venetian glass.
Oppenheim said of the work; “It's a very simple gesture that's made here, simply turning something upside-down. One is always looking for a basic gesture in sculpture, economy of gesture: it is the simplest, most direct means to a work. Turning something upside-down elicits a reversal of content and pointing a steeple into the ground directs it to hell as opposed to heaven.”
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
UK Construction Week, London is here !
Debuting major international pavilions and much more.
Getting the most out of heat pumps and heating
How heat pumps work and how they work best.
Plumbing and heating for successful retrofit and renovation
Low temperature underfloor systems and heat pumps.
Cost-of-living crisis and home improvement plans
Starting on the right footing and top tips for projects.
Delays on construction projects
Types, mitigation and the acceleration of works.
From Chaucer to Fawlty Towers.
Electrotechnical excellence, now open for entries.
Net zero electricity grids BSRIA guide NZG 5/2024
Outlining the changes needed to transition to net zero.
CIOB Global Student Challenge 2024
Universitas Indonesia wins for second year running.
New project and cultural district described in detail.
The nature of EPCs, crticism and inaccuracies.
History, issues and redesign.
From waste recycling to energy performance the hierchy.
ECA 2024 Apprentice of the Year Award
Entries open for submission until May 31.
UK gov apprenticeship funding from April 2024
Brief summary the policy paper updated in March.