Pelican (Pelikaan)

About this artwork.

In the keystone above the gate of this former school you can see a Pelican piercing its chest. The motif of the pelican piercing his chest to feed his young with his blood refers to Christ's self-sacrifice on the cross. This pelican can be considered the ultimate symbol of love (for one’s child).
 
S.J. Bouma is the architect of the building, which dates back to around 1929 and was built in the Amsterdam School style. At the time, he was an architectural draftsman for the Municipal Works Department and a pioneer of the above-mentioned architectural style, which is characterised by the application of sculpture to the interior and exterior of a building. Until 1930, Willem Valk was awarded all decoration assignments for buildings designed by the Municipal Works Department. At that time he was the most artistic and skilled sculptor in the province of Groningen.
 
In 1921 Willem Valk came to Groningen, where he would teach sculpture at the Minerva Art Academy for 43 years. In addition to his teaching remit, he created numerous portraits, nudes and sculptures for buildings in Groningen. The latter earned him the unofficial title of city sculptor.

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  Willem Valk

• District
  Rivierenbuurt & Herewegbuurt

• Year of creation
  1929

• Art type
  Art in / on a building, Wall sculpture

• Material
  Granite

• Dimensions
  h 1,95 m