A Sky Full of Hope – Earthtime 1.78 Frankfurt

"A Sky Full of Hope – Earthtime 1.78 Frankfurt" is an art installation by Janet Echelman in a public space in downtown Frankfurt. The large-scale net sculpture hovers above the Konstablerwache plaza and is just as visible from a distance as it is up close.

The object, which spans more than 200 square meters, hangs at a height of over seven meters. Its supporting structure consists of hand-spliced, high-strength polymer fibers. Attached to it are colored net segments up to 4.5 meters long, knotted using traditional fishing net techniques. The effect of the work changes constantly due to wind, weather, and shifting daylight. After dark, the sculpture is illuminated by a lighting score developed by the artist.

The Frankfurt installation is part of Echelman’s Earthtime series. The title refers to the Tōhoku tsunami that struck off the east coast of Japan in March 2011. For the form of the net sculpture, Echelman drew on measurement data regarding wave heights in the Pacific Ocean during the earthquake. Thus, the work combines a light, almost floating appearance with a concrete geological reference.