Fig 574: Chimera Volklingensis

A fantastical creature emerges from the dark, weathered surface of a large steel door at the Völklingen Ironworks. The handwritten inscriptions “Fig 574” and “Chimera Volklingensis” frame the image as a fictional scientific illustration.

The work was created by French artist Codex Urbanus, known for inventing imaginary hybrid creatures. He gives his creations scientific-sounding, often Latin-inspired names and presents them as if they were newly discovered species. The drawing was made in 2022 in connection with the Urban Art Biennale at the Völklingen Ironworks. The official artwork documentation identifies chalk as the material used.

The title combines Chimera, a mythical creature composed of different beings, with a reference to Völklingen. The industrial heritage site thus becomes the habitat of an imaginary species.