Artwork Data
Artwork Location
Address
Loosduinse Hoofdstraat, Den Haag
City district
Loosduinen
GPS data
52.050329341266, 4.2291338254408 View on map
Artwork Description
Text
Writing about my work? It is not the artist's task to analyse or explain his work to the viewer. In his work he has already spoken. It is a quote of sculptor/ceramist Dick Loef from 1965. So don't expect complicated theories or a complicated explanation of the origin of his art. This gives the viewer all the space he needs to form his own opinion. And that is exactly what Loef wanted: the viewer should look and judge for himself.
Loef's work is figurative or at least contains recognisable elements. An example of a figurative sculpture is 'Boy in a tree' from 1979. The bronze sculpture is located at the Madestein Children's Farm at the Loosduinse Hoofdstraat. The sculpture consists of two stylised trees. The main trunks have a number of truncated side branches. Using these, a boy climbs up the tree, his eyes fixed on a cat that is apparently in trouble.
What is striking is that the boy's limbs are disproportionately long. Loef has chosen this elongated form to accentuate the movement of climbing up. Moreover, in this way he created a relationship with the stunted trees. The boy's legs resemble the branches of the trees. His head is also somewhat larger than usual. By enlarging it, Loef was able to convey the boy's concentration and intentions in the facial expression. Without hesitation he made his way towards the cat clinging to the end of a branch. The animal turns its head anxiously but also resignedly towards the boy, as if it seems to know that rescue is near.