The Giant Pool Balls
Now one of Münster's landmarks
The balls have now become a real landmark for Münster... and for our company.
They have been the subject of many artists, graphic designers, and photographers over the years. Some examples can be seen below...
During the initial search for a logo for mas, numerous variants were explored.
We knew and wanted to clearly connect with our city while also operating nationally and internationally. This was expressed in the naming of the company mas | münster analytical solutions gmbh. However, there were many possibilities for a logo in a city full of history and sights.
Ultimately, we chose a stylized representation of the GIANT POOL BALLS by Claes Oldenburg (1929-2022). Various sources describe the artwork created in 1977 as follows:
"The Giant Pool Balls, the three oversized billiard balls on Lake Aasee, were created in 1977 as part of the first Sculpture Projects Münster by American pop art representative Claes Oldenburg . The concrete balls (with a diameter of 3.5 meters) have long since become a landmark of Münster. Originally, the plan was to distribute the colossal balls throughout the city, but only three were arranged on the Aasee terraces."
The sculpture projects take place in Münster every 10 years. They were first held in 1977. Some of the objects scattered throughout the city are often adopted by the city afterward.
This was also the case with the Giant Pool Balls, which initially met with great rejection from the population. Unknown individuals even attempted (unsuccessfully) to roll the balls into Lake Aasee.
Incidentally, the rumour persists that during the planning of the location of the balls, a city map was spread out on a billiard table. Where the balls landed after the shot was where they were to be installed.
As said, a rumour... but a nice one!
Of course, the balls are always the "object" of graffiti.
We once created our own
Even our first Christmas card in 2005 was not spared.
The cityscape of Münster by artist Wilhelm Schlote naturally also includes the Aasee balls.
Snow Globe Balls...
