Square of fundamental rights

The idea behind the signs

The Platz der Grundrechte is an art installation by Jochen Gerz and was officially inaugurated in October 2005. For his artwork, Gerz spoke to 24 representatives of the major courts, such as the Federal Constitutional Court and the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, and asked them what law/justice means to them today. He also went to 24 citizens who had come into conflict with the law and about whom justice had been done. They were also asked the same question.

Gerz put the answers on 24 signs, with the statement of a lawyer on one side and the statement of a citizen on the other. When reading the signs, it quickly becomes clear how close right and wrong are to each other and that the judgment of what is just and what is not depends heavily on the individual person. According to an earlier interview with Jochen Gerz, it was precisely this dialog, which the signs represent but which had never really existed in this form, that he found interesting about his work.

A work of art that encompasses the entire city

The description of the 24 decentralized locations can be found online. (you can find more detailed information here). They invite you to discover the city and the topic of law from a completely new perspective.

One of the best-known sites and probably the first place to go is the Federal Constitutional Court. As the so-called "guardian of the constitution", the Federal Constitutional Court is a fitting location, and the Platz der Grundrechte was also a gift from the city to the court.

Another sign is located on the corner of Hans-Thoma-Straße and Moltkestraße. Without knowing the background, many people wonder why this particular spot was chosen. In April 1977, Attorney General Siegfried Buback and his two companions Wolfgang Göbel and Georg Wurster were murdered by RAF members at this spot.

The next sign is located directly at the new Ständehaus, which was originally the first parliament building in Germany. The next sign is located in Kronenstraße. There used to be a synagogue here, which was destroyed during the National Socialist era. At this location, the sign is not only dedicated to the topic of justice and injustice, but also commemorates the persecution of the Jews during the Third Reich. A place that makes you think.

There are 20 other locations in the city, for example at Kronenplatz or the BadischesStaatstheater. The various locations invite you to explore Karlsruhe and are all connected to the topic of law/justice in different ways.