Zitknobbels
In the 1970s, a major theme of artist René de Boer was narrowing the gap between art and the public.
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That is precisely why he turned his sculptures not only into objects to be viewed, but also into functional items. These zitknobbels are a case in point. Underneath the sculpture are swivel castors and nylon glide plates that make it possible to roll the artwork from its position. And because the sculpture is hinged in the middle, it can also be reshaped. Thus, as well as being a work of art, it is also an object to look at, sit on, lie on and play with. In 1975, Zitknobbels stood on the Grote Markt for a month, after which the municipality of Groningen purchased it and installed it in the winkelcentrum Paddepoel. In the late 1990s, the sculpture was moved to the Selwerd shopping centre. Since 2011, the bronze bench has stood on the square near the De Beren shopping centre.