Second Thought – Giny Vos (2008)
Realised art in public spaces
Artist Giny Vos has been commissioned by CBK Groningen to create a new media artwork underneath the Stadsbalkon, the square in front of the Central Station in Groningen. The title of the work of art is Second Thought.
When visiting the bicycle store, the artist’s attention was mainly drawn to the large round holes in the roof. They all give a different view of the station above the ground, but often from a strange perspective. Giny Vos was captivated by the vast difference in opinion that the Stadsbalkon and the main station seem to have with one another. On the one hand, the modern square gives the monumental station new allure, but it also obscures part of the station from view.
Snow Globe
Above the roundabout in the bicycle store, Giny Vos designed an upside-down snow globe with a fairytale image of the station that highlights how it once was. Every now and then the station turns into a shadow of itself, as if the artist also wants to show the downside of the arrival of the Stadsbalkon. The work adds a special element to the world of the coming and going traveller that surprises every time! The artwork will remain in place for at least five years.
The station square in Groningen has been radically updated. Due to its floating nature, the design was given the name Stadsbalkon (City Balcony). This new square formed part of a larger plan to improve the traffic situation around the station. KCAP architects from Rotterdam designed the new square with a parking facility for 4000 bicycles underneath.
Bicycle store
The Stadsbalkon will put an end to the chaos of bicycles that dominated the forecourt of the station for years. The bicycle parking facility under the Stadsbalkon is special because of the central bicycle path that runs through the station area from east to west. In the centre of the bicycle store, the cycle path crosses the walking route leading to the exit via some stairs. It is precisely at this spot that the bicycle path splits around a roundabout, mainly intended as a speed limiter. This roundabout forms the centre of the bicycle store. This is also where the artwork Second Thought is located.