Those who find themselves in the lofty mists between the muses of art sometimes forget that all those wonderful concepts must also be implemented if you ever want to see it again. And once your bronze statue is on display in the city, it can happen that someone who values the material more than the concept will cut an arm off. In short: Art needs a foundry and restorers. Such as Ateliers MTW (Museum Technische Werken) in Groningen.
The workshops are diligent and efficient. There is a deadline: sculptor Natasja Bennink has commissioned the casting of a huge statue and the unveiling is planned in the not too distant future. Boris Waalboer from the mold department is also busy, but he frees up a few minutes for a tour of the various rooms.
"This work, I've been working on this for months." He points to Snap, the image of a hand that seems to make a particularly rude gesture. However, as the name suggests, it is a child-friendly work of art: it is frozen on the verge of snapping. “We had to fill the cracks with synthetic resin and then the painting department painted it,” says Waalboer about the work, which was originally made of wood, but later made of plastic because it must be able to withstand all weather conditions at its location in front of the Oosterpoort. The studio has brought the image of as-good-as-depreciated back to full jazzy glory.
Restoration is a group effort
“I actually come from IT, but I was completely burned out there,” says Waalboer. Ateliers MTW hires people who need some help to reintegrate into the labor market. With the help of a fixed rhythm and guidance, they not only get used to having a job again, but they also learn a trade. Or just say: a true craft. Waalboer is already guiding new employees.
“We receive commissions from the municipality, but most of them come from artists themselves. A lot from the north, although we get orders from all over the country. The work here is different every day.” Wax models are made in the workshops, which are encased in plaster moulds. When the wax has melted, the bronze can be poured into the plaster casings. After the bronze statue has cooled down, the post-processing follows: removing plaster residues, grinding, welding, chiselling and patinating.
Each step in the process is performed by other people, making the whole thing a group effort. This is clearly noticeable in the friendly atmosphere in the rooms. The two dozen employees form a close-knit team, which ensures great results, also with the restorations. Ludwich Oswald Wenckebach's Boy figure (Jongensfiguur) was heavily modified by vandals and is currently undergoing an intensive restoration. Even if we don't think about it, due to the meticulous craftsmanship of these restorers, the (not so young) Boy figure (Jongensfiguur) can probably celebrate his sixty-third birthday again at his own location in the Pioenpark.
Note: this article has been translated using Google Translate