Harvard Circle Fountain
2002
Three clouds perched on curving pillars of gleaming brushed steel cry rivers of water, turning a busy traffic rotary near Wallbridge Park into a 360 degree viewing experience.
About the Artist
Biography
Hans Van de Bovenkamp was born and raised in Holland, where he studied architecture. Within ten years of his subsequent graduation from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, he achieved wide success in the United States, showing in New York City (New York University, Tiffany's, 10 Downtown, Bryant Park, etc.), Houston, TX (Contemporary Arts Museum), Stamford, CT (Stamford Museum, University of Connecticut), and in several other states. In the following twenty-five years, Van de Bovenkamp showed in Italy, Lebanon, Venezuela, Switzerland, Canada, and he placed his works in ten museum, embassy, and sculpture center shows, as well as in numerous universities, public gardens and institutes. His sculpture is widely shown in galleries throughout Europe and the US.
Van de Bovenkamp received recognition quickly for his large-scale abstract works in bronze, stainless steel, painted steel, or aluminum, and he received large commissions for corporate, private and public collections as early as 1964 (the year he was also awarded the Emily Lowe Award). His undulating abstract forms of varying width and depth often contrast with clean circles or thrusts of vertical shapes to offer accomplished compositions of impressive grace." Most of my shapes are soft and round; they are very feminine and sensuous, I hope. But I do them in stainless steel so hard, you can make knives from it." His work is also inspired by myths, "the collective consciousness, subliminal learning." I like dreams, myths and mythology," says the sculptor, who has been influenced by the work of Joseph Campbell, the cultural anthropologist, whom he has met. "A lot of my work is derived from ceremonial religious art."
Van de Bovenkamp spends most of his time working on large public commissions. When he turns to a more intimate scale, he applies the same technical skill and aesthetic sensibility, creating some of the most sensuous abstract sculpture available today.
A recently published 160 page book from Hudson Hills Press is available, spanning the artist’s 40 year career, with a Foreword by Steve Larsen, Introduction by Phyllis Braff and Essay by Donald Kuspit.
*biography courtesy of sculpturesite.com
