Head Over Heels (Rollebollen – 7 elements)

About this artwork.

With Head Over Heels, René de Boer combined a number of principles of his work. In the 1970s, he was interested in the interaction between visual art and public on the one hand and visual art and sound on the other.

The spheres are made of brass plates welded together and have a diameter that varies from 90 to 150 centimetres. They are filled with different materials such as wood sticks, sand and marbles. Because of this, they each have their own sound, which can be heard when they move. The spheres, which were connected by a chain, were – as a kind of performance – rolled through the city several times, bringing the interplay of sound and movement to life. Eventually, they got a permanent place on the large playground at the Bernouilliplein.
 
René de Boer wants his work to be used to reduce the gap between public and art. The spheres now often serve as goalposts for playing football. The artist sees the fact that they show caused by rolling and climbing as a natural process of wear and tear.

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  René de Boer

• District
  Korrewegwijk & De Hoogte

• Year of creation
  1977

• Art type
  Freestanding sculpture

• Material
  Messing

• Dimensions
  h 0,90-1,50 m