Marking the Impact of a Canadian Tank Grenade (Markering inslag Canadese tankgranaat)

About this artwork.

The south facade of the town hall still shows evidence of damage from the end of the Second World War. A Canadian tank grenade exploded against this wall during the liberation. So, to mark the site, the municipality of Groningen asked designer Henk Suurling to create an impactful piece of art. 

Suurling decided to mark the damaged Town Hall column with two weathering steel plates, placed either side of the impact. And on the left he added a description. However, time and rust have led to the text becoming less and less visible. But that was exactly Suurling's intention; he wanted the text to slowly blend into its surroundings. But when this actually happened in 2012, when the text became illegible, it was decided to cut through the Corten steel following the text so that it remains forever legible."

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  Henk Suurling

• District
  Centrum

• Art type
  Design, Monument, Art in / on a building

• Material
  Cortenstaal

• Dimensions
  h 0,40 x b 2,00 x d 0,20 m