Evolutie, 1966

Piet Slegers (Netherlands, 1923-2016)
Sonsbeek ’66, City Hall, Arnhem

In a square with a large office-like building with marble walls, there is a bronze statue on a very low pedestal of about ten centimeters. It is an abstract sculpture with a vertical shape, featuring geometric cutouts and protruding parts. In the background is a pond with fountains and the front view of a brown church building. — *Photographer: Eva Olthof*

Evolutie was created in 1966 by the Dutch artist Piet Slegers and was exhibited that same year during Sonsbeek ’66. This edition of Sonsbeek was the first to feature many abstract works, often no longer displayed on pedestals. With this choice, the selection committee highlighted contemporary developments in sculpture.

Slegers had a particular interest in space exploration, which experienced enormous advancements in the 1960s, culminating in the 1969 moon landing. Slegers’ interest is reflected in Evolutie. It is a dynamic work, reminiscent of rocks from space or a cloud of glowing hot gas during a rocket launch.

Slegers was born in Mierlo, in the province of Brabant, but lived almost his entire life in Velp. His public artworks can be found throughout the Netherlands. In some cases, they involve large-scale Land Art projects, such as his Landschaps-zonneproject from 1979, visible at the Kröller-Müller Museum.

Evolutie, 1966

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