Photo by Robbert Jan Blekemolen
On Wednesday, July 13th at 10:30 at my outdoor sculpture titled FOOTPRINT will be presented to the public in the village of Raamsdonkveer in the southern Netherlands. I was commissioned by the Gemeente Geertuidenberg to create an art piece as a homage to the historical train route which was used to transport shoes produced in the region.
I chose to use Corten steel to resemble the train rails for which the materials and shoes traveled. In sketching the piece I imagined a 30 meter tall giant resting in the grassland with only his feet visible to the village. The two shoe sculptures work as a monumental welcome to this beautiful village.
Today this train route is a historical bike path used by locals and tourists. In the open landscape the outline of two metal shoes are visible from all directions. Upon closer inspection details emerge of steam trains and a map of the region.
More information here.
Assignment: Gemeente Gertruidenberg
Title: FOOTPRINT
Year: 2016
Size: Twice 500cm (height) x 200cm (width)
Material: Corten Steel,10 mm
Technical guidance: Robbert Jan Blekemolen
Projectleader: Jos Wilbrink, BKKC, Tilburg
Plasma cutting: Snijtechniek Brabant, Raamsdonkveer
Soil-investigation: Geosonda, Ganshoren
Calculations: HMT Bouwtechniek, Raamsdonkveer
Welding & construction: BS Metaal, Raamsdonkveer
Sculpture-foundation: Brefu, Breda
Inauguration: July 13, 2016
