Contemplate a man and a sheep staring intently at each other. This is Man en Schaap, a sculpture in Amsterdam-Oost. It resides in a pond bordering the Flevoparkweg, Zeeburgerdijk, and Zuiderzeeweg.
Man en Schaap came to life from Merijn Bolink’s fountain idea. He envisioned a man and woman. But a visit to a party shop changed everything. He found a mask resembling Alfred Hitchcock and a sheep’s head. Bolink found it more compelling. He was often inspired by the impossible contact between humans and animals.
Notice how the heads face each other. Yet, communication seems impossible. Ultimately, only a part of the Hitchcock figure made it into the art. Bolink found a more distinctive head within his circle. It belonged to Otto Schaap a known art dealer. Only the heads emerge from the water. A small water jet flows from the man toward the sheep. The fountain concept is still noticeable.
Man en Schaap earned the Amsterdam Street Art Prize in 2011. This prize was only awarded once. Merijn Bolink, born in Amsterdam in 1967, is the artist. He is a sculptor, installation artist, and draftsman. He studied at the AKI in Enschede from 1987 to 1992. He currently lives and works in Amsterdam.
The sculpture probes the relationship between humans and animals. The water jets symbolize the feeling of connection. Bolink believes communication happens when they lock eyes. Even if they do not understand each other.
The bodies submerged below allude to the area’s past. Breaches in the old Zeeburgerdijk often led to floods. The water would engulf the polder region.
Bolink often uses existing objects, dead animals, or plants in his art. His processes include doubling, merging, or dissecting. He aims to reveal the soul of things. Another work of Bolink is in Westerpark.
Take a moment to appreciate Man en Schaap. Consider the silent dialogue between species. The waters connect them. Yet, a chasm of understanding remains. What do they see in each other’s eyes? Perhaps, a reflection of our shared existence.