Feel the cool brick beneath your fingertips. This is the Baksteen sculptuur en vijver. A seemingly simple brick structure yet so much more.
Created by the renowned Danish artist Per Kirkeby in 1990 this sculpture stands proudly on Hildo Kropplein. It’s more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a poignant tribute to the past.
Originally molded from clay the design was then enlarged and meticulously recreated in brick. Kirkeby wasn’t just building a sculpture. He was building a memory. A memory of the old brick abattoir that once stood on this very spot. The slaughterhouse is gone. The memory however remains. Its form lives on in the sculpture. Notice the subtle curve of the building. It’s meant to resemble the head of a cow. A silent nod to the area’s butchery heritage.
The Baksteen sculptuur en vijver isn’t just about the past. It’s about childhood. It’s about playing near water alongside a brick wall. This is how Kirkeby remembers his own youth. He wanted to create a space for children to play to gather to hide. He infused the sculpture with that sense of innocent fun.
The surrounding undulating pond softens the building’s stark lines. This thoughtful addition complements the architecture. The brickwork itself is a reference to Kirkeby’s native Copenhagen. There the expressive brick architecture of the Amsterdam School style was common.
Kirkeby’s work links his homeland to Amsterdam. It evokes the Amsterdam School architecture. It serves as a quiet memorial to the past. More than that. It’s a playful space. It’s a monument to memory and childhood. It’s the Baksteen sculptuur en vijver. A testament to art’s ability to bridge time and evoke emotion. A beautiful piece of art in the heart of Amsterdam.