Today, as a board member of the André Volten Foundation, I feel proud and happy at the festive celebration of the placement of the large and grand work of art by André Volten, here on the Dordtselaan. Last week, in the evening cold, I was allowed to witness the placement of this work of art. The cold had no chance because of the excitement that took hold of me when the workmen, with great precision and care, pulled up the work of art, which was stretched out on a low-loader, with an immense hoist and placed it exactly where it now stands. From the darkness, the so-called 'expressive simplicity and three-dimensional lines' of the work of art became visible in a few minutes. I can't help it, but at that moment images flashed through my mind of André Volten standing by the work, cigarette in mouth, beret on head, calmly talking to the workmen.
André Volten was an artist who knew everything about steel; as a volunteer he had learned everything about it at the NDSM in Amsterdam, and he had also learned to work with this material himself. He could speak, almost poetically, about steel, corten steel, stainless steel, iron. At the same time he could also talk technically about these materials, about the constructive properties, about what a good foundation requires. He will not have been surprised that this work of art rests on piles that have gone more than 22 meters into the ground, that engineers had calculated and drawn beforehand and that the placement places high demands on the craftsmanship of the men/women who hoist, tackle, bind, tie and lash, tighten nuts.
André Volten – next year we celebrate his 100th birthdaye birthday with an oeuvre exhibition – belongs to the top of post-war visual artists who have created works of art in public space: abstract, geometric, non-figurative, and always searching for the connection with the environment. How beautifully that has been achieved here: through this work of art with – as mentioned – its 'expressive simplicity and three-dimensional lines', the Dordtselaan has gained (more) character. It strengthens the sight lines and is at the same time a striking, unmissable point next to the Maashaven metro station.
Ladies and gentlemen, let this relocation be an encouragement, not only for my foundation but also for countless other foundations, and also for institutions such as CBK Rotterdam and Sculpture International Rotterdam, for municipal services to continue our efforts for the sculptures in the public, public space. Many thanks therefore to Sannetje van Haarst and Ove Lucas, to Monique Marijnissen and her team. Also thanks to the permit issuers, City Management and the contractor for the placement. Without you it would not have been possible.
We need this encouragement badly. It will take a lot of effort from all of us to give other statues a good future. To give you an idea, my foundation has nine – nine! – statues by Volten on a list that are in danger in some way, at least if we do nothing. The good news is that thanks to the efforts of organisations like the ones mentioned, we are achieving success. Last year, a beautiful work by Volten was re-placed on the dike of Andijk – close to Volten’s birthplace – after restoration. We have now found alternative locations for the large ensemble on the Jaarbeursplein in Utrecht – which consists of three works of art. The Open column on the boulevard of Vlissingen will be given a beautiful new purpose in the Scheldekwartier opposite Damen Shipyards, formerly De Schelde, once the donor of this work.
And now CBK Rotterdam, Sculpture International Rotterdam and Stadsontwikkeling are conducting a location study for the artwork by Volten that stood between Evides and the Van Brieneroordbrug. A work of no less than 40 by 40 meters. A work that also created a connection between the bridge and the drinking water buildings by architect Wim Quist. For reasons that I will not mention now, the work had to be removed. Our search is intensive and also exciting, but I have every hope that it will succeed.
I would like to end with two quotes from a 1995 letter from the then 70-year-old André Volten to the Mayor and Aldermen of Amsterdam; quotes that say a lot about who he was:
I have had the opportunity to work a lot in my life, both in doing
as in thinking. I have, thanks to the others, many great
working in public places, at home and abroad,
may put down; I have been able to learn through my works and
discover what I was working on and for what.
I am humble and proud,
real and emotional,
businesslike and irrelevant,
and I thank you for your attention and your good will.
Standing in memory of André Volten, I in turn thank you all for your attention and goodwill!
Cees Paardekooper is a board member of the André Volten foundation.
