Untitled (four posts - vier paaltjes)

About this artwork.

The work consists of four curved, stone, trachite posts that are equally spaced along the pavement. They are partially sunk into a layer of dark stone, which creates a striking contrast with their yellow/grey colour. Gjalt Blaauw has treated the material as little as possible in order to preserve the natural appearance of the stone. However, he has made an unnatural curve in the rock by carving it with a machine. On the inside of the curve it seems as if solidified rock has been left behind, waiting to escape from the heart of the stone. 
 
Although the sculpture is very simple, it has a powerful and striking effect. The sculpture forms both a division and an invitation at the same time: the posts bend towards the entrance of the building they stand in front of, as if to show visitors the way.
 
Blaauw is an artist who works stone in an “honest” way. He leaves the material as unpolished as possible, as can be seen in this piece. For example, on the curved surfaces the round traces of a circular saw are visible and the rough sections show where the artist has been working with a hammer and chisel. 
 
Initially Blaauw only worked with stone, but in the 1980s he also began working with sheet metal. In the artist’s opinion, sheet metal is less demanding than stone and offers unlimited options. Blaauw's combination of metal and stone has resulted in a range of sculptures.

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  Gjalt Blaauw

• District
  Centrum

• Year of creation
  1991

• Art type
  Freestanding sculpture

• Material
  Trachyte

• Dimensions
  h 1,13 m