in short
On the banks of the Necker, near the bridge by the Rüteli barbecue area in St. Peterzell, a path branches off from the paved walkway and leads to a large boulder of Nagelfluh. ‘Herrgottsbeton’ by Anna Maria Fink allows visitors to experience the movements of landscape, body and time. A path, marked by the artist with circular markings, leads visitors past sandstone, nagelfluh and concrete to a boulder, thereby drawing their attention to the millennia-old, ever-changing rocky landscape.
work
Herrgottsbeton (2025)
You are standing at the start of a 400-metre-long path, the history of which is not precisely known. It is thought to have once been used for forestry and the extraction of gravel and rubble. Today, it runs off the paved path, follows the River Necker and ends at a large boulder of Nagelfluh in the riverbed. Nagelfluh is a conglomerate rock which – much like concrete – consists of various sediments and is colloquially known as ‘Herrgottsbeton’ (God’s concrete). The title of the work alludes to the human element within the more-than-human. Along the path, the artist has created markings in sandstone, Nagelfluh and concrete. Every year she returns to maintain the path and renew the drawings. They highlight special spots and draw attention to the movements of hand, machine, water and mountain. Walking along the path opens up space for reflection on the constant change of the landscape – through geological processes and human activity, all of which are part of the same nature. Take off your shoes here and walk slowly. Listen carefully. When you reach the large boulder, clap your hands three times. Let the water and your breath carry you back.
artist
Anna Maria Fink
Anna Maria Fink (born 1987, Austria) lives in the Bregenzerwald, where she works as a landscape architect, artist and researcher. Her practice centres on working with what already exists – with places, situations, materials and atmospheres. Anna creates installations, artistic interventions and gardens that highlight regional material cultures and strengthen connections to the landscape.