Two Reliefs of Human Figures with Flower and Bird (Twee reliëfs van mensfiguren met bloem en vogel)

About this artwork.

The two reliefs were commissioned by the public housing association (now the housing corporation Lefier). The figures depicted have sleek, stylised forms. In the depiction located at the corner of Oosterhamriklaan-Paramaribostraat, a human figure is holding a flower in its right hand. In the other relief, located at the corner of Oosterhamriklaan-Arubastraat, a human figure is depicted with a bird. The flower and the bird refer to the meadows that were there before the construction of the West Indies neighbourhood.
 
Facade stones and reliefs were common art forms in the 1950s. These decorations can still be found on many buildings dating from that time.
 
The sculptor and master craftsman Mattheus Meesters, born in Haren in 1908, received lessons at the M.T.S. school in Groningen at the Department of Applied Arts and Crafts. The famous Groningen artist Willem Valk was his teacher there. In addition to facade decorations, Meesters created spatial works, which can be found in various places in the city of Groningen. One of his most famous works is a statue in the Noorderplantsoen, which the artist referred to as Untitled, but which became known as Sun-Worshipper (Zonaanbidster).

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  Mattheus Meesters

• District
  Korrewegwijk & De Hoogte

• Year of creation
  1957

• Art type
  Relief, Art in / on a building

• Material
  Limestone

• Dimensions
  h 1,25 x b 0,55 m