Sarreguemines Frank Stella

Set in the forecourt of the bank is Sarreguemines (1993) by the American sculptor Frank Stella, a friend of the architect. Stella, born in 1936, is known for his minimalist paintings. The main hall of the bank is tower-shaped, harking back to the form of the historic fortress of Luxembourg, and is accessed by means of a type of drawbridge. The baroque form of this sculpture, a kind of three-dimensional collage constructed from salvaged pieces of industrial metal, contrasts with the geometric discipline and stark white of the bank which forms the backdrop to the piece. More lightheartedly, the work could suggest the wreaths of smoke curling upwards from the cigars enjoyed by the artist.