Artwork Data
Artwork Location
Address
Aegonplein, Den Haag
City district
Haagse Hout
GPS data
52.091028198155, 4.3678322337296 View on map
Artwork Description
Text
Mysterious and at the same time a little hesitant, he stands there at the entrance to Aegonplein. A more than man-sized, bronze figure without arms. He seems to be staring in thought at the stone that lies a few metres from him. Is he just staring thoughtlessly at it or is there more to it? Is he wondering what the thing weighs, how much force it would take to lift it? We do not know. Yet the figure with its large head and small drawn face inspires confidence. He even creates peace as he stands there with his large streamlined body.
Henk Visch is the maker of this sculpture. In the 1980s he created a furore as a sculptor in our own country and abroad. Sometimes he made abstract sculptures, but mostly his work is figurative. Even though his figures are withdrawn into themselves, you can still identify with them. By (partly) painting his bronze sculptures, he avoids giving an overly classical impression. It even makes them contemporary.
With this work, Visch also manages to breathe new life into the old classical myth of Sisyphus. But unlike Sisyphus, who time and again pushed an enormous stone up a mountain, this figure seems to like it best when the stone remains in place for a while. The poetic and enigmatic title ('There is no song about it') completes the work of art. This is usual with Visch. Together with the image, the text creates an almost infinite stream of associations that the viewer can float at his leisure.
The sculptures by Visch can be found in dozens of places in public spaces in the Netherlands. This sculpture is part of the art collection of insurance company Aegon. It adorns the square in front of their head office.