Diet Wiegman The Watchers (1994)

Guard figures are from Babylonian antiquity: tough powerful images that should impress and preferably intimidate visitors. The guards is therefore the title of five concrete shapes that Diet Wiegman designed for the redesigned Bospolderplein. They are indeed tough, solid and actually derived from classic images. Although you should know that, because they are almost abstract residual forms and not scary mythological creatures. Wiegman turned the design process into a public spectacle. On the spot he poured concrete into the earth dug out forms on the square. The figures are vertically and horizontally oriented, irregularly shaped, sometimes smooth, sometimes rough. The neighborhood was able to follow the process closely, which, according to Dietman, increased their connection with the artwork. Wiegman said: “At the same time as the other activities, the square was an open studio, where everyone could follow the manufacture closely. This new approach to a work process contributed to openness and discussion with the environment during the production of the images. They are statues in front of, but also of the square. They are the children, born from the belly of the square. ”