In 2005 and 2006, Sigmar Polke won a competition to design the windows of the Grossmünster church. Among the fellow competitors were Sylvie Derfraoui, Olafur Eliasson, Katharina Grosse and Christoph Rütimann.

The motif

Polke makes reference to the windows by Augusto Giacometti, that show the birth of Christi (1933). He laid a time axis from the west church nave to the east, towards Giacometti's windows. Seven windows with agate (stone) sections are located in the west and symbolise the in stone solidified images of the history of the earth and the prehistoric times.

Christ prefigured

Towards Giacometti's windows, five so-called «prefigurations» follow: These are figures from the Old Testament, that according to Christian interpretation foretell of Jesus. Polke's motifs in traditional glas technique shows: the Son of Man, Elijas' Ascension, King David, the scapegoat and Isaak's sacrifice – an oeuvre of international reach.

Detailed Description (in German)