Peter Zegveld, Het Schrijfkanon (2001)
In many historic settlements and ports, the canon is a well known aspect. It is a remainder of history, when these weapons served a town and country. Almere is a new town, the Literatuurwijk a contemporary neighborhood. We do not have to manifest our power any longer by fighting and defending ourselves with weapons, but we can use the word to find our way. The pen is mightier than the sword. The word is a brick of the reason. And for fantasy: Literature. Peter Zegveld.
With these thoughts, artist and theatre director Peter Zegveld created Het Schrijfkanon (2001) as a mascot for Het Land der Letteren in the Literatuurwijk in Almere Stad. High on the sound wall stands what seems to be a normal canon. The ones who look more closely can see that the barrel of the canon actually is a giant pen. The message is clear: power can not be found in weapons but in words. The developers wanted to add an artwork as an orientation point of the neighborhood when it was finished. To make sure the theme of the neighborhood came back in the artwork, de developers and Museum De Paviljoens searched for artists who work interdisciplinary and interfere language intheir art. The future residents could say which artwork they favored and these comments were taken into account in the final choice for Het Schrijfkanon (2001).
In most of his work. Peter Zegveld does not use one kind of material or medium. He creates experimental and visual theatre, wrote a children’s book and combines different (new) media, light and sound in his work. From this viewpoint, Het Schrijfkanon (2001) is a real traditional sculpture for him. He actually refers to tradition with this artwork and to the use of cannons as symbols of status and power.
In old cities, canons stand on the defense wall, in Almere on the sound wall that separates the neighborhood from the highway. The sound wall has been altered in 2005 and also the artwork has been replaced on higher grounds. This made it less visible for the neighborhood. A path runs along the wall to Het Schijfkanon (2001). Even now the sculpture remains part of the neighborhood and not only for the drivers to see.
Peter Zegveld, 1951, Den Haag
Het schrijfkanon (2001)
Cortenstaal, concrete pedestal, 2,3 x 2,0 x 4,6 m
Location Almere Stad, Hoge Ring, Literatuurwijk
Collection The Almere Collection / Museum De Paviljoens
Thanks to vof 2 Joost (Amstelland Vastgoed bv en Bouwfonds Woningbouw bv)
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