Zweifel
Palast Des Zweifels (the Palace of Doubt) transformed the non-functional architecture of the old DDR's Palace of Republic, into a virtual institution for doubt.
Once a fancy modernist building, set up in the 1970's, Palast der Republik (the Palace of the Republic) was a giant steel construction consisting of a solid white marble facade and copper-gold coated windows. It was mirroring the Berliner Dome, Schinkel's Lustgarten and other historical buildings on the Museums Island in the river Spree. It was open to public and ordinary people dated, married, dined and danced in this hybrid of a parliament and communal house.
After the fall of DDR in 1990, the palace was abandoned and left empty for over 15 years. Between 1998–2003 asbestos was removed and in the process the complete interior and the facade was ruined.
On daily basis, ever since the Reunification, the building was subject to massive debates: Which position could the Palace have in the future, as icon of a former totalitarian regime? Could it fulfill a new function, becoming a new cultural place like it used to be? Or would the social site where East Germans had spent their leisure become a problem for a new Germany?
Monitoring these debates over years Ramberg developed an idea: to create a monument over the debate itself. Palast des Zweifel was his tribute to the new era of German history, where he sees "doubt as something that has become a proof of reflection and democracy. Collective doubt has brought Germany out of its totalitarian background and in fact united the two German nations".
The project was realized in 2005, with aluminum letters illuminated with white neon tubes, visible from far.
Liberté
Liberté is considered to be an interactive monument. Originally intended to be built outside Eidsvoll Castle, the place where the Norwegian constitution was written.
After being rejected, the controversial work generated aggressive public debates. Two years later it was realized as permanent monument in front of the National Museum of Art in Oslo.
As part of the Norwegian centennial, it "acted as a ‹Statue of Liberty› for the nation" celebrating 100 years of freedom from Sweden.
According to the artist: "Liberté was developed as a concept based on the French - as a provider for both the highest and the lowest institution for a modern society: the democratic constitution and the invention of public toilets.
When Jacques Chirac was mayor of Paris, he challenged the company JCDecaux to design unisex public toilets, reflecting and fulfilling the French ideal of individual rights in democratic society".
In 1979 JCDecaux presented the innovative self-cleaning toilets in the streets of Paris. In 2005, the company supported Ramberg's project Liberté by supplying it with three of the same original toilets from the streets of Paris. One in red, one in white and one in blue, just like the colors of the French, US and Norwegian flag. The were also inscribed with "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité".
Inside the toilets, three different radio programs broadcast historical speeches; Charles De Gaulle, King Haakon VII, Franklin Roosevelt, etc accompanied by national hymns from Norway, France and USA. The installation allows an intimate relationship with its audience; the visitors fulfilling the Work, performing inside.
The work is now located permanently outside the Norwegian Parliament in Oslo and was placed there on occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution.
Link to short documentary on the project: https://vimeo.com/107149790
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