Xy

About this artwork.

Xy at the UMCG education building represents the relationship between the X and Y chromosomes, and thus indirectly the most important genetic difference between women and men. Women have two X chromosomes, while men have only one X chromosome and the much smaller and weaker Y chromosome. At the unveiling of Xy, Cisca Wijmenga gave an intriguing lecture on the sad future of the Y chromosome, which is losing more and more genes and might become extinct in five million years. If you look at the piece with this knowledge in mind, you will see the large X chromosome running confidently and buoyantly across the grass, while the Y chromosome is trying to get out of the way, standing small and with its head lowered.

The artwork is made of galvanised steel, which was then coated — creating a kind of flower in the zinc — and lacquered.

This piece by Martin Borchert is part of the art project Kennisjaren 1994-2014 (Years of Knowledge 1994–2014) of the University of Groningen. This project was started in 1994 to celebrate the 380th anniversary of the university and ended in 2014 on the occasion of the 400th anniversary. Xy came about in 2009, the year of the 395th anniversary. The theme of that year was Arts meets Science.

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  Martin Borchert

• District
  Oosterparkwijk

• Year of creation
  2009

• Art type
  Freestanding sculpture

• Material
  Coated steel, Galvanized steel, Painted steel

• Dimensions
  X: h 4,90 x b 3,80 x d 1,30 m
   y: h 1,70 x b 1,10 x d 1,50 m