Transition 2012

Transition 2012 is a poetic sculpture by artist Gabriel Lester, originally presented during dOCUMENTA (13) in Kassel, Germany. The work consists of a large, circular structure partially embedded in the earth, creating an almost meditative space between sky and ground. The title refers to the film and theatre term “transition” — a shift from one scene to another, like a fade-in or fade-out.

Lester invites the viewer not merely to observe the work but to experience it as a pause in time. It is a space where meaning is not imposed but emerges through the visitor’s presence. Transition 2012 thus functions as a symbolic passage — between cultures, between locations (originally Shanghai and Kassel), and between ideas.

After its international premiere, the work found a permanent home in the Netherlands. It has since been installed along the N34 in Drenthe, where it serves as a landmark marking the transition between nature and infrastructure — perfectly in line with its original concept of stillness and reflection in motion.

The sculpture has a radius of 460 cm and a height of 240 cm, constructed from EPS, wood, metal, concrete, and paint. Mothership developed the concept, oversaw the participation process, and was responsible for the design and execution. The project was produced by dOCUMENTA (13) in co-production with Mothership, with support from Fonds BKVB, SKOR, Galerie Fons Welters (Amsterdam), and Leo Xu Projects (Shanghai).

Transition 2012 is an impressive example of how art can make the space between physical locations and mental states tangible — from Kassel to Drenthe.