Act of Despair (Thonet Version)
2013
Folkert de Jong
The artwork ‘Act Of Despair’ consists of a fragile stack of a Thonet chair with a pile of coffee cups and 3 crystal shapes, cast in bronze. With this, Folkert De Jong questions the position and vulnerability of the artist. The domestic and playful character of this stack catches the eye, and its colorful appearance contributes to this uplifting sentiment. The Thonet chair is a cuddly, mass-produced piece of furniture. The coffee cups are fragile and a disposable product.
Details
- Plan number: M42
- Zone: Human Nature
- Title: Act of Despair (Thonet Version)
- Creator: Folkert de Jong
- Date: 2013
- Material:
- Acquisition:
- Object number: MID.B.693
That ‘Act Of Despair’ is made of bronze is essential for the effect that this casual stacking evokes. The idea of a material that came from deep within the earth and was obtained with large amounts of fuel, then transformed into an elegant and precious object, captures the imagination.
Folkert De Jong does not place a human figure in this work but rather man-made things on a pedestal. Is it that which typifies us as humans, namely that we can create objects and that we can structure the chaos around us? Or are the structures and systems we use vulnerable, like this fragile stacking of cups? This work also reflects on the vulnerable position of the artist, who, in an act of despair, tries to capture the viewer's attention.
Folkert De Jong is a sculptor and draftsman who lives and works in Amsterdam. His work consists of life-sized sculptures, made from chemical products such as styrofoam and polyurethane foam, and later also from bronze. His figurative works refer to (art) historical events and have a strong interest in the condition of humanity.
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