Standing here, observe how the steel reaches to the sky. This is Brettensuite 16/20. It is a sculpture by Herbert Nouwens. This artwork is part of a series along the Brettenpad. The Brettenpad is a walking and cycling path. It stretches from Amsterdam to Halfweg.
Herbert Nouwens created the Brettensuite. It includes twenty monumental sculptures. These sculptures engage with the Brettenpad landscapes. The path is about 11 kilometers long. It starts in Westerpark. Then it runs to Amsterdam’s edge near Halfweg.
Nouwens sees a key relationship. It is between a sculpture and its surroundings. He chose spots along the Brettenpad. These spots needed landmarks. The path begins in Westerpark. It goes past Sloterdijk train station. It ends in a rural area outside the city. Nouwens arranged the sculptures like musical suites. These suites are collections of short pieces. Bach made them in the 17th century. They form a series of dances.
Suite 16 stands on a concrete slab. It is between the path and a canal. Reeds and birches surround it. This location forms a three-way intersection. The Brettenpad passes in front. A cycle path runs at right angles.
The sculpture looks bird-like. It has a diagonal pose with a head and wing. It seems like a swan resting. Elongated steel pieces jut out. Sharp folds hold them. These folds reach the ground. Sheets stack diagonally. They create a pedestal. Iron beams support a plate. This lifts the sculpture.
Theo from artatsite.com describes Brettensuite 20. The simple steel beams are rusted. They remind him of his ordinary work. He finds beauty in the shadow on the path. This happens when he repairs his garden fence.
Nouwens’ beams hold heavy arched plates. They seem weak. Yet this is beautiful. The plates are irregular. They look like they came from a wrecked ship. Theo sees beauty in this too. A new ship is nice. But a wreck has its own beauty. People age and wear out. There is beauty in that as well.
Nouwens once lived and worked in Amsterdam. His studio was at the Westergasfabriek. He returned in 2014. It was his 60th birthday. He wanted to show his work at his old workplace. Officials approached him. They wanted to highlight the Brettenpad with culture.
Nouwens carefully chose the locations. He felt the spots needed markers. He hopes cyclists and walkers are surprised. He wants them to see the sculptures as beads on a string. They tell a story together. That’s why he named it Brettensuite. A suite is a collection of musical pieces. They can stand alone. Together, they create a musical journey. Nouwens would be happy if his Brettensuite does the same.
Remco Daalder saw Nouwens’ first sculptures. They stood at the tunnel entrance. They were robust sentinels. Despite their size, they were subtle. They fit with the ecopassage stones. These guide animals. The sculptures have human size and organic forms. Like Westerpark itself.
The Brettensuite inspires. It integrates art and culture. It reuses cultural heritage. This creates new wins. It is a current theme. The beeldenroute consists of 20 sculptures. Herbert Nouwens created them. They were placed in 2014.
Herbert Nouwens was born in 1954. He is a Dutch sculptor. He moved from figurative to abstract sculpture. David Smith inspired him. Nouwens works with steel. He worked in Amsterdam studios until 2004. Since then, he lives and works in Slochteren. His style is hard to define. It is not constructivist. Nor minimalist. Nor pop art. His work resembles English postwar sculptors. Such as Anthony Caro.
Brettensuite 16/20 challenges us. Does it resemble something familiar? Or does it invite us to see something new? Take a moment to decide.