“En Suite” they call it. This towering sculpture of Brettensuite 2. It’s unlike anything else along the Brettenpad. Its size defies human scale. You’d need to crane your neck to see its entirety. Imagine standing next to it. You can barely reach a third of its height.
Brettensuite 2 is one of twenty sculptures by Herbert Nouwens. The whole series is a conversation with the landscape of the Brettenpad. This 7km path begins in Amsterdam’s Westerpark and ends in a rural setting. Nouwens deliberately placed the sculptures. He wanted them to be landmarks. He also chose places where he felt they would complement the surroundings.
The sculptures are positioned in relation to each other. Think of a musical suite. Short pieces of music designed to be played together. Each sculpture is unique. Together they form a single coherent work. This is especially true for Brettensuite 2 and its neighbouring sculptures. Brettensuite 2 stands in an open space next to the railway viaduct. It’s diagonally across from Suite 4. The path between them runs under the railway to Suite 3.
The artist’s use of steel is remarkable. The organic shapes suggest a human figure a giantess. We recognize the three parts of the human body: legs trunk and head. Yet this is not a direct representation of a person. It is art. The artist found this form through countless decisions. Each step in the process was reassessed. It wasn’t a rigid plan. The result was a strong composition. A strong composition that’s more than just a collection of steel.
Feel the wind. Hear the trains rumbling by. See the cyclists and runners moving past. Brettensuite 2 is not just a sculpture. It’s a part of the vibrant Amsterdam landscape. It stands as a testament to creative vision and the power of art. It stands as a conversation between human creativity and the natural environment. It’s a point on the path a destination a story told in steel. A powerful and enduring dialogue. A silent sentinel that silently communicates. A giantess who remains eternally standing. A fitting end to your visit to Brettensuite 2.