Power and Light (Kracht en Licht)

About this artwork.

Arie van den Berg created Power and Light in 1965, commissioned by the Provincial electric company (now Essent). The artwork was intended to mark the completion of the this company's new power house. In his design, the artist therefore sought a symbol for electricity: the sculpture makes the elements light and power visible.
 
The lower part of the artwork is a closed ring with spokes in it, a kind of wheel. On top of that, three open shapes have been placed, each with three wires stretched to one point. The spokes and wires evoke associations with jumping sparks or rays of light. On the one hand, this artwork has massive, dark and powerfully sculpted forms and, on the other hand, thin, light lines traverse the entire space. In this way Van den Berg attempted to give form to power and light in his sculpture. 
 
The piece was created in different stages. The base was a wire sculpture, covered with plaster. This plaster model was then dismantled into nine parts, and each part was cast separately in bronze. The spokes or wires are made of silver and gold-coloured strips of glass glued to transparent plastic. Finally, all parts were welded back together again, resulting in this ten-metre tall sculpture.
 
The artwork stands on a pedestal of grey basalt blocks in a pond. The piece was installed in collaboration with landscape architect Paul de Maar. The water not only creates a mirror effect, but also symbolises the role that water can play in the generation of electricity.

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  Arie van den Berg

• District
  Oosterpoort & Europapark

• Year of creation
  1965

• Art type
  Freestanding sculpture

• Material
  Bronze

• Dimensions
  h 10,00 m