André Volten Mikado (1975)

“Plastic pipes decorate Zestienhoven,” reads the headline in the NRC Handelsblad of June 26, 1975, and then: “The Rotterdam airport has acquired a striking landmark from the air, which since yesterday has had a place on the lawn in front of the station building. Although the Rotterdam city council decided four years ago that Rotterdam airport must be closed, the artwork was nevertheless created on the basis of the percentage scheme that must provide artistic decoration for new construction. The new station building has been there since 1970.” The Amsterdam artist André Volten has been involved in negotiations about his work of art for ten years. Because when Zestienhoven Airport still seemed to have a flourishing future, he had made an initial design for a series of advertising towers (in line with his 'Communication Column' for Central Station). But these were too expensive and a second design with a smaller layout was also not approved, because the small airport would attract few advertisers. The discussion about the need for a work of art for an airport that was doomed to closure lasted for years (in the early 1970s the airport was losing millions annually). Nevertheless, Volten received the final assignment in 1974, while councilor Jan Riezenkamp still considered the work unnecessary. PvdA councilor Gerrit Schilder, however, saw the object as a memorial that could embellish a new residential area on Zestienhoven in the future (Schilder would later become director of CBK Rotterdam from 1983 to 1989). Volten took this uncertain future into account with his design. He made his design from black pipes, which could be moved without many technical problems. And they would also look good in another spacious location. After years of uncertainty, the approximately 750 employees at the airport were so frustrated by the municipal closure plans that they could not appreciate the work of art whatsoever. The tubular plastic, which is supposed to give an impression of the ascending and descending air traffic in all directions, is seen as an "example of a collapsing airport" reports Het Vrije Volk on July 3, 1975. "Not impressed by the sleek, shiny metal, people talk about a messy pile of tubes and the tube plastic was nicknamed 'Mrs Van der Louw's knitting needles'. But the airport would continue to exist and years later change its name to Rotterdam The Hague Airport. The work received appreciation and the unofficial title 'Mikado'. It was stored for years during renovation work, restored and in 2016 it was placed back in the water. If you drive to the airport, you will still see this striking landmark.