Brutalistische Aap
2023
Bronze
250 x 260 x 380 cm
“Brutalism is back,” headlined The New York Times on October 6, 2016. The article was about the revival of an architectural style that had long been ignored because it was perceived as bulky, bare and almost inhumane. But after years of postmodernist frills and bloodless corporate office buildings, appreciation for straightforward brutalism is on the rise again.
This is evident in the redevelopment plans for De Bunker, the most outspoken example of Brutalism in the Netherlands and in keeping with the no-nonsense character of the city of Eindhoven. The BunkerTower is literally based on the crude colossus from 1969. That stark foundation turns out to be fertile ground for architectural and urban renewal.
The Brutalistische Aap [Brutalist Monkey] from Atelier Van Lieshout is the suitable mascot for such stylistic durability. Its rough forms are similar to the unfinished concrete of Brutalism, but gently hint at the curves of Art Deco. Strength and zest for life go hand in hand. The geometric shapes that sit on the monkeys body like architectural bulges emphasize the utilitarian rationality that ultimately drives him.
The Brutalist Monkey is a Bokito who doesn’t let himself go crazy. And he is a King Kong who does not hesitate to climb the tower to repel the air attacks of his puny opponents.
Monkey business. Going ape. Monkey see, monkey doo. Making a monkey of someone. Monkeying about. The mammals that are genetically the most closely related to humans are regularly put in the spotlight in the English language. In proverbs and sayings, the word “monkey” almost always carries the implication of unruly behaviour and even wantonness.
But that is a combination that actually fits Brutalism well. The appearance of The Bunker is unpolished and incredibly direct – thus particularly suited to the student groups that were the original users and undoubtedly monkeyed about.
That characterization also applies to the building’s architecture, Huig Maaskant. For his most famous design, the Groot Handelsgebouw in Rotterdam, he provided interior streets so wide that he could drive his own car, an enormous American muscle car, through the building. He silenced critics by saying, “You remind me of my wife. For the last twenty-five years, she has also been looking for shoes that are big on the inside and small on the outside.”
The monumental qualities of Maaskant’s architecture are now widely recognized. The Bunker is even getting a second life as a pedestal for a contemporary tower. It emphasizes the historical value and timeless power of this primal building and conveniently mirrors how we as humans evolutionarily stand on the shoulders of apes.
BunkerToren
John F Kennedylaan 3
5612 AB Eindhoven
The Netherlands