Gerhard Richter installs Foucault pendulum in deconsecrated Münster church

Gerhard Richter has donated a new artwork inspired by Foucault's pendulum to a deconsecrated Dominican church in Münster, Germany. The piece, titled 'Pendel,' features a 48 kg brass ball suspended from a 29-meter cable, with a magnet from the University of Münster's physics department keeping it in constant motion. Four glass plates reflect the pendulum's movement, making its oscillation visible from all angles. Installed in place of the altar, the work symbolizes the victory of science over ignorance and obscurantism. The early 18th-century church, damaged in World War II and rebuilt in the 1960s, had been used for conferences until November 2017, when it was deconsecrated due to urgent renovation needs. The organ and altar have been removed, and the space will host events and concerts. The mayor hopes Richter's work will attract tourists and art enthusiasts, helping raise the approximately €650,000 needed to complete the church's restoration. This follows Richter's earlier donation of 18 works to the Housing First project, which provides permanent housing for homeless individuals.