Extended opening hours: Every Friday and Saturday, the special exhibition Nan Goldin. This Will Not End Well is open from 10 am to 8 pm.
Skypiece was conceived by American artist David Black in 1971–72, within the context of his DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) fellowship, to be installed in the sculpture garden water basin. Its restoration and partial new production was an unusual and challenging project.
Many components of the sculpture had been so seriously altered by ageing and weathering that restoration was not possible. In consultation with the artist, via his son Eric Black, it was decided to produce new editions of these components, replicating the originals as closely as possible and employing more durable materials. Some of the original components could be retained and restored. The restoration project was made possible by the Wüstenrotstiftung.
Components that were originally produced from polycarbonate, and had meanwhile become opaque and severely discoloured due to UV exposure, have been remanufactured out of acrylic glass because of its superior ageing characteristics in outdoor applications. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Nationalgalerie / Hana Streicher 2021
The installation of the heavy components. Fifty-eight individual large and small plastic components were threaded onto sixteen metal bars on site. All connections had to be air and watertight to prevent dirt from entering the interior spaces. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Nationalgalerie / Hana Streicher 2021
Project management: Hana Streicher, Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin
Planning / Coordination: Anke Klusmeier
Implementation: Eysenschneyder company, Berlin, Nordform-Kunsstoffe company, Norderstedt, Germany
Duration: 2017 to 2021