On Friday, June 7, the artwork ‘Cocon’ was unveiled at the Veenhof, thanks to the efforts of local residents. The marble piece ‘Cocon’ was created around 1980 by artist Bastiaan de Groot. It was previously located at Siersteenlaan in Vinkhuizen. Jan Bekker, one of the initiators, explains how the idea to bring art to the Veenhof came about, how the process unfolded, and why they specifically chose this piece.
"During the neighborhood association's annual meeting in January last year, we discussed the replanting of a deceased tree and the replacement of a playhouse. The playhouse in the central area was too rotten to be safely used. We wanted a beautiful addition that would enhance the unique architecture of our homes. This architecture won the Best Building award in 2010. During the meeting, the idea came up to ask Kunstpunt Groningen, known for ‘Art on the Street,’ if an artwork from the municipal art storage could be placed. Since there was little art in the neighborhood, this request was granted."
"In May, we had a meeting with Diana Lourens from Kunstpunt and as many residents of the Veenhof as possible. After that, we visited the municipal depot. We got a glimpse of the artworks stored there. Based on our preferences, Diana made a preliminary selection. Some works were deemed too small or too abstract. ‘The Peanut,’ as the working title of the artwork was, immediately stood out positively. We didn't yet know it was a work by Bastiaan de Groot, but the material and design were familiar to me."
"The choice was unanimously ‘The Peanut.’ The beautiful round shapes contrast nicely with our cubistically designed houses. The clean white form also contrasts nicely with the rugged vegetation we aim for on our grounds. And the size was just right. The piece seemed to fit well in the southern part of the city, as a logical continuation of the existing sculptures by Bastiaan de Groot, which everyone in the area knows. Additionally, we found it fun that the artist lives in our neighborhood.
I visited Bastiaan de Groot to talk about the work. Since the piece didn't have an official title yet, we decided to name it ‘Cocon.’"
On May 24, the artwork was placed at the Veenhof by City Maintenance. In Groningen, you can find no less than 10 other works by Bastiaan de Groot; see the overview on this page.