Existing comment:
Herk Van Tongeren
Teatro XI, 1981
Herk Van Tongeren admired the Surrealists, especially Giorgio de Chirico, and he studied the Surrealists' philosophical ideals. This is evident in his sculpture 'Teatro XI', on view in the park, and in 'Teatro XVI'I, part of Grounds For Sculpture's Sculpture Along the Way program. Both works consist of geometrical objects lying in a stage-like setting, and as a result Van Tongeren achieves a false sense of perspective with the placement and sizing of these objects. There is a kind of emotional detachment the artist conveys through the use of monochromatic geometric shapes. Yet, there is also a sense of idealism depicted within the works of art--one can imagine Van Tongeren as an architect sculpting his vision of a futuristic landscape. |