Art in Public Places - Today’s Artwork: "Hans Stocker - Die vier Elemente"

March 24, 2026

This insight describes one of 563 public artworks in Basel. If you’d like to explore more publicly accessible artworks, browse the full dataset on data.bs. Or even better—experience them in person by booking a tour with Artstübli – Kunst und Kultur.

Photo: Hans Stocker, Die vier Elemente.

The mosaic 'Die vier Elemente' by Hans Stocker transforms a school corridor into a vibrant lesson in ecology and imagination. Created posthumously in 1984 from the artist's designs, its bright glass depicts a gardener tending to plants, surrounded by the radiating colors of water, earth, air, and fire. The circular composition is deliberately broken open, inviting students and passersby into its world. Here, the sun is not just a symbol of an element but becomes a focal point for play and daydreams, proving that public art in a functional space can quietly nurture both environmental awareness and creative wonder.

Figure 1: Location of Artwork "Hans Stocker - Die vier Elemente"

Data source: Kunst im öffentlichen Raum
Additional resources: Artstübli, street-art-cities, Urban Art in Basel

🤖 This text was generated with the assistance of AI. All quantitative statements are derived directly from the dataset listed under Data Source.