Florian Graf - School Models

Swiss artist Florian Graf conceived his School Models art project for the public space in the city of Zurich. Situated within the schoolyard of a public secondary school, it is comprised of models of three buildings on the campus, each representing a period of architectural history. Graf’s white limestone sculptures of 1:20 scale are supported by oversized, multi-colored Terrazzo toy blocks. Students are invited to view their school buildings in entirely new ways, such as seating or as meeting places. The interplay of proportions between oversized blocks and miniature school buildings, as well as the actual school buildings used as a backdrop, prompts a re-evaluation of the underlying power dynamics and interpretations that shape educational systems.