Zwei Licht-Prismen von Heinz Mack

Description

The Zwei Licht-Prismen von Heinz Mack, standing along Kirchstrasse in the heart of Vaduz, are easy to spot and surprisingly fun to watch. Two gleaming, triangular towers of glass rise from the pavement like crystalline beacons, catching the Alpine sun and flipping it into shifting bands of color. They’re public art, yes, but also something a little more playful: reflective prisms that make the city around them feel alive and constantly changing.

German artist Heinz Mack—co-founder of the ZERO movement and a lifelong explorer of light—created these prisms as a conversation between sculpture, sky, and street. The surfaces aren’t just shiny; they’re engineered to play with refraction and reflection, so the color you see moves with you. Stand on one side and you’ll spot cool blues, step around and the glass warms to amber, rose, and sometimes a faint green. It’s the kind of “stunning sculpture by Heinz Mack” that rewards curiosity more than speed. Slow down for a minute or two and the piece opens up.

This modern work sits in a compact cultural pocket of Vaduz that includes the Government House of Liechtenstein and the museum cluster, so it naturally ends up on most walking routes through the city center. Travelers often come upon the prisms by accident, then stay longer than expected—watching clouds roll by in the glass or snapping a quick photo as the reflections dance over their jacket sleeve. The interplay with the surrounding landscape is a core part of the experience: a slight breeze, a drifting cloud, or the late afternoon sun will change the whole mood in an instant.

While many call them the Two Light Prisms or simply “Light Prisms by Heinz Mack,” locals sometimes reference the German title—Zwei Licht-Prismen von Heinz Mack—which feels fitting in Liechtenstein’s multilingual environment. And because they’re outdoors and free to enjoy, the installation is easy to fold into a morning of museum stops or an evening stroll towards Vaduz’s main square. The piece is good for kids, too. Children tend to circle the prisms like curious birds, testing how their own movement changes the wash of color and the mirrors of the city’s architecture on the glass.

For travelers who enjoy art that is both sculptural and architectural, this is an elegant example. The prisms are triangular in section and built from special color-effect glass—think of it like a carefully coated surface that bends and splits light into different hues. There’s no need to be a physics buff to appreciate refraction, though. The art does the explaining without a single word, creating a dynamic visual experience that changes as the day goes on. On overcast mornings, the piece feels cool and minimal; on high-sun days, it becomes more extroverted, scattering flashes of color onto the pavement like confetti.

Visitors who gravitate toward contemporary art will likely connect the work to Mack’s broader practice: he has spent decades experimenting with surfaces, kinetic elements, and natural light. Here in Vaduz, he keeps things simple, and the effect is stronger for it. The prisms reflect the entire surroundings—people, buildings, sky—so the artwork is never exactly the same twice. It’s a tidy metaphor for travel itself: new impressions, tiny shifts in point of view, the way a city can feel different just because the sun came out or a cloud slipped by.

Is it a monumental landmark you’ll spend hours exploring? Not quite. The charm lies in its immediacy and the pleasure of discovery. Many travelers treat it as a delightful pause—five to fifteen minutes to watch light behave in ways the eye doesn’t always notice. In a small capital like Vaduz, which favors quality over quantity, that restraint works. The Zwei Licht-Prismen are compact but memorable, refreshed minute by minute by the weather and the life of the street around them.

Key Features

• Two triangular glass sculptures designed by renowned artist Heinz Mack, co-founder of the ZERO movement
• Color-effect glass that shifts hues based on angle, sunlight, and weather, creating changes and refractions in real time
• Central location in Vaduz’s cultural area, an easy stroll from institutions and public squares
• Free to view, open 24/7, and designed to be experienced at multiple times of day
• Kid-friendly and engaging; children enjoy seeing their own reflections and chasing the colors
• Accessible setting with level ground around the artworks for strollers and wheelchairs
• Photographer’s favorite: strong reflections, crisp lines, and prismatic color make for standout images and video clips
• Low-time-commitment stop that pairs well with a museum visit or a short walking tour of Vaduz
• Weather-responsive artwork: sunny days produce bold color shifts; overcast skies yield soft, elegant tones
• Urban-meets-nature dialogue: mountains, sky, and city architecture all appear on the glass surfaces

Best Time to Visit

Because this is light-based art, timing matters—but there’s no single “perfect” moment. Each time of day tells a different story, and that’s exactly the point.

Late morning to early afternoon delivers the punchiest colors. When the sun climbs, the prisms wake up, and the façades around them burst into crisp reflections. If you’re after a bold photo with saturated color, aim for late morning sun. At midday, the palette can be at its most intense, though shadows shorten and the look becomes very graphic.

Golden hour is for the romantics. Late afternoon and pre-sunset bring warmer tones into the glass and longer shadows across the pavement, so the prisms look more painterly. It’s a great time if you prefer images with depth and a bit of atmosphere rather than high-contrast drama.

Overcast days are wildcards in the best way. The color is gentler, but the reflections are more even and architectural lines read clearly. Photographers who love soft light might prefer it. And after rain? Magic. Wet streets mirror the prisms right back at themselves, doubling the visual effects and making the city feel a touch cinematic. If you see rain clearing, head over—you’ll likely catch those luminous streaks you can’t plan for.

Seasonally, winter light in Vaduz can be low and cool, which often produces crystalline blues and silvers. Summer gives brighter, more energetic reflections, especially around midday. In the run-up to year’s end, the city’s festive decorations may appear in the glass, adding spontaneous patterns of color and sparkle that feel very different from a quiet spring morning.

How to Get There

The prisms sit along Kirchstrasse in central Vaduz, right in the city’s compact cultural zone. Travelers walking from the main square will reach them in a minute or two—just follow the gentle flow of people between the museums and the administrative buildings, keeping an eye out for the two triangular towers of glass. If you reach the Government House of Liechtenstein, you’re practically there; the prisms sit within the same orbit of landmarks.

By public transport, the principal bus stop in Vaduz is an easy gateway. Regional LIEmobil buses connect the capital with nearby Swiss and Austrian rail hubs like Sargans, Buchs, and Feldkirch. From the central bus stop, it’s a short, level walk through the pedestrian-friendly streets. Signage in the center is clear, and the route is intuitive—more like crossing a tidy plaza than navigating a maze.

By car, use one of the public parking areas in the city center near the museum cluster. From there, the walk to the prisms is a matter of a few minutes. Vaduz’s core is compact and largely flat, so it’s also a straightforward visit by bicycle. Wayfinding is easy, and the surrounding streets are calm even in high season.

On a guided tour of Vaduz, the prisms often appear as a natural stop—guides like to point out how the surfaces mirror local architecture and explain the background of artist Heinz Mack. Whether you’re on foot, on a tour, or simply wandering between coffee stops, the Two Light Prisms in Vaduz are hard to miss.

Tips for Visiting

Make it quick, or linger—it’s your call. Many travelers find ten minutes is enough for a good look and a few photos. But the longer you watch, the more you’ll notice: subtle color shifts, the way passersby melt into the glass and become part of the artwork, the rhythm of the city reflected back at itself.

• Photographing the prisms: Stand at an angle to the panels rather than head-on to emphasize the prismatic color. Use a polarizing filter lightly if you’re working with a DSLR to manage glare; on smartphones, tapping to expose for the highlights helps preserve color.
• Video clips: Short, slow pans capture the movement in the reflections better than static shots. And keeping the camera at hip level can reveal unexpected patterns on the pavement.
• Royalty-free images and clips: If you need supplemental visuals for a blog or a presentation, consider sourcing stock images and editorial-use videos from reputable libraries. Always double-check license terms (editorial vs commercial), credit the creator when required, and confirm the asset covers public artworks in urban spaces.
• Kid-friendly stop: The installation sits on level ground and is comfortably open. Guide children to admire without touching the glass—fingerprints show quickly and dull the effect—then let them walk around and discover how the colors change with each step.
• Accessibility: The area around the prisms offers good access for wheelchairs and strollers. Paths are wide and flat, and benches nearby make it simple to pause and enjoy.
• Weather wisdom: On bright days, sunglasses help when viewing the most reflective surfaces. After rain, watch for slick patches around the base and enjoy the extra reflections on the wet stone.
• Respect the artwork: These are durable glass sculptures, but they’re still art. Avoid leaning on the surfaces or leaving bags propped against the base.
• Time of day strategy: If you’re taking a walking tour in the morning, circle back in late afternoon to see how the palette has shifted. It’s practically two experiences in one day.
• Combine with nearby sights: The prisms pair naturally with the museums, the main square, and a look at the Government House of Liechtenstein. If your schedule is tight, they’re a clever five-minute addition that quietly upgrades your gallery of Vaduz pictures.
• Curious about the glass itself: Mack’s project here uses color-effect coatings designed to bend and split light, similar to what’s known in architecture as dichroic glass. If material science and design are your thing, dig into references on color-effect glazing and its use in public art and façades—you’ll recognize the same rainbow edge in other contemporary buildings.
• Tours, experiences, hotels: Most walking tours through the city center mention the prisms, so it’s easy to include them without rearranging your day. If you’re booking a hotel in central Vaduz, you’ll likely be within a five- to ten-minute walk.
• Photography etiquette: If you’re filming people interacting with the prisms, be considerate. The surfaces reflect everything, so frame your shots to respect privacy when possible.
• Winter charm: In colder months, the lower sun creates longer shadows and winter-blue tones. Bring gloves—metal camera gear gets chilly fast—and enjoy the crisp clarity that comes with cold air.

Two small notes help set expectations. First, this is a focused artwork, not a large-scale attraction. Those who arrive expecting a panoramic viewpoint or a major plaza installation may find it subtle at first. Give it a minute. The value is in the transformation—the way it turns the city itself into a participant. Second, light rules everything here. If a cloud drifts over, wait thirty seconds and the mood resets. That variability is exactly what makes the Two Light Prisms in Vaduz such a satisfying stop on a Liechtenstein itinerary.

Travelers who enjoy architecture, design, and the little moments between big-ticket sights will appreciate how effectively Mack’s prisms fold together city, nature, and movement. The work takes a simple idea—glass that reflects and refracts light—and uses it to reframe what’s already there: the sky, the buildings, the people, the Alps. It’s an artwork that asks for a small investment of attention and gives back in color, pattern, and the quiet surprise of seeing a familiar street look brand new.

Location

Places to Stay Near Zwei Licht-Prismen von Heinz Mack

Find and Book a Tour

Explore More Travel Guides