On Wednesday 26 July 1995, CBK Rotterdam placed the statue on the Binnenrotte IK by artist Jan van Munster. The Manifestatie Laurenskwartier was completed with the glossy black granite statue. The event consisted of nine temporary works of art in the area around the Laurenskerk. At the opening of the event in June, the statue of Van Munster was still on a ship en route from India, where it was carved and cut. Van Munster designed the letters in such a way that it is possible to sit on them. The artist wanted to join the artwork of I, ICH, MOI, JA, IO, YO and MINA, translations of the word IK into languages that can be heard in an international city like Rotterdam. He came up with the idea for a seating sculpture when he was walking around the square and saw someone sitting uncomfortably on a pile of stones. The seating offered by the artist is much better and the black polished granite also retains the heat of the sun. The effect is that IK offers a wonderfully heated seat until well after sunset. Due to the redevelopment of the Binnenrotte IK placed in storage in 2009. A new location on the Binnenrotte is being sought.
Jan van Munster (Gorinchem, 1939) studied at the Academy of Visual Arts and Technical Sciences in Rotterdam and continued his education at the Institute of Applied Arts Education in Amsterdam. Van Munster initially worked with wood, stone, bronze and glass. From the 70 years onwards, his attention shifted more and more to the application of light. His work also became increasingly minimalist. In 2002 the artist received the Wilhelminaring for his entire oeuvre.
Two granite seating elements in the shape of the letters IK
Materials
Granite
Dimensions
50 x 50 x 172 cm / 50 x 125 x 172 cm
Year
1995
Client
CBK Rotterdam
Owner
Municipality of Rotterdam
About the artwork
On Wednesday 26 July 1995, CBK Rotterdam placed the statue on the Binnenrotte IK by artist Jan van Munster. The Manifestatie Laurenskwartier was completed with the glossy black granite statue. The event consisted of nine temporary works of art in the area around the Laurenskerk. At the opening of the event in June, the statue of Van Munster was still on a ship en route from India, where it was carved and cut. Van Munster designed the letters in such a way that it is possible to sit on them. The artist wanted to join the artwork of I, ICH, MOI, JA, IO, YO and MINA, translations of the word IK into languages that can be heard in an international city like Rotterdam. He came up with the idea for a seating sculpture when he was walking around the square and saw someone sitting uncomfortably on a pile of stones. The seating offered by the artist is much better and the black polished granite also retains the heat of the sun. The effect is that IK offers a wonderfully heated seat until well after sunset. Due to the redevelopment of the Binnenrotte IK placed in storage in 2009. A new location on the Binnenrotte is being sought.
Jan van Munster (Gorinchem, 1939) studied at the Academy of Visual Arts and Technical Sciences in Rotterdam and continued his education at the Institute of Applied Arts Education in Amsterdam. Van Munster initially worked with wood, stone, bronze and glass. From the 70 years onwards, his attention shifted more and more to the application of light. His work also became increasingly minimalist. In 2002 the artist received the Wilhelminaring for his entire oeuvre.
