Anne Mieke Backer Onion bone (2010)

After Anne Mieke Backer and Mariëtte Kamphuis presented their book about the cultural history of the Zestienhoven polder at the end of the summer of 2009, the first signs of a monumental follow-up to this became visible in the area. Cultural-historical research showed that the IJskelder site has traditionally been the lowest and coolest part of this polder. This piece of peat-meadow landscape developed as a bird area. To indicate that it will also be inhabited exclusively by birds in the future, they literally gained a foothold here. Because it builds on the project Nest which was shown by theater maker Benjamin Verdonck at the Weena in the spring of 2008, in 2010 a huge bird's nest was built in the shape of a stork's foot. It Onion bone illustrates the legend of the Ice Cellar, which is described in the book '16 Courts, 2 polders, 1 park and 1.800 homes', and aims to bring prosperity and happiness to the new country estate. The sculpture by visual artist Anne Mieke Backer is executed 'at work', as they say. Backer and executor Luigi Zuliani worked from September to December 2009 on the creation of this special stork's nest. After the general maintenance work for the area, a festive delivery, adapted to the breeding season, took place on April 21, 2010. The ice cellar site was then raised so that the pedestal was aligned and the toes of the leg were placed in the field. to stand. The character of the landscape returns to its original state and it remains a breeding ground for storks.