The Lazy King, 2008

On the green hill in front of the Stadsvilla lies The Lazy King, resting at ease. As if he had always belonged there, he stretches out in the heart of the park. During the Sonsbeek 2008 exhibition, this sculpture offered a playful yet telling response to the hectic pace of the global financial crisis and the busyness of everyday life.

The French artist Alain Séchas (1955) is known for his humorous and imaginative visual language, often populated by little martians and figures with cat heads. In The Lazy King, his formal language remains enigmatic: do we see a Disney-like character, a cat, a crown, or perhaps all three? It appears as if a cartoon figure has effortlessly stepped into our tangible world.

The work was created specifically for Sonsbeek 2008, curated by Anna Tilroe, which explored the theme of Grandeur: the ability to follow your desires and rise above yourself. For Séchas, grandeur also means the freedom to slow down, be lazy, and momentarily escape the pressures of daily life.

After the exhibition, The Lazy King was acquired by the municipality of Arnhem, giving this striking sculpture a permanent place in the city—as a friendly reminder of the value of rest and playfulness.