Artwork Data

Title

Roadline

Artist

André van Lier

Year

1978

Material

Staal

Dimensions

h. 1050 cm

Artwork Location

Address

Schenkkade, Den Haag

City district

Haagse Hout

GPS data

52.077484310817, 4.3350957417474 View on map

Artwork Description

Text

Red Button', 'Paperclip', 'Scissors'. Numerous names have been given to this giant at the intersection Schenk Viaduct-Utrechtsebaan. The red steel tube that makes a large loop at a height of about 12 metres and returns to the earth is actually called 'Roadline', after the situation of the road network around it. The sculpture was made as a landmark for incoming motorists. For its creator, André van Lier, it was one of his first monumental commissions for the municipality. Another of his well-known works are the three folded steel circles on the Dierentuinbrug near the Koninginnegracht.

The artist was trained as a spatial designer. Besides his work at an engineering firm, he made his own sculptures. His vision is that of a constructivist, in the line of De Stijl, Bauhaus and Russian constructivism. He is interested in pure form. He has always been very consistent in this. For years, he has really only explored the possibilities of the square and the circle, especially in monochrome painted wood and steel. Only through small interventions such as folding and cutting were surprising new images created time and again.

Even when the trend towards figuration grew, Van Lier stuck to his style. He increasingly worked abroad, where he felt there was more interest in constructivist art. He had his own gallery 'Art Construct' in The Hague and worked with foreign artists. Van Lier also remained active as a designer. In addition, he was responsible for, among other things, the restoration of the Panorama Mesdag in the 1990s.

When asked how he looks back on his former work after all these years, he answers very positively: 'I think Roadline has only become more beautiful lately. The changes in the surroundings make the image come into its own much better'.

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