| ‘Kunst in staal’ - Art in steel
For more than 30 years Nico Liedorp (1950-2012) had a great preference for stainless steel and made it the starting-point of his sculptures. After his studies at the Art colleges in Breda and Rotterdam he focused on monumental abstract steel sculptures, but also art objects, awards and business gifts constituted part of his work.
This master in lathing and polishing techniques was fascinated by the endless possibilities of stainless steel. From his workshop in Dordrecht, and later from Nuenen, he contacted many other people from the world of steel. He researched the possibilities of the materials and in his workshop he shaped them into geometric shapes, which interact with their environment. Sometimes the sculptures were small, other times they were huge steel structures, but the monumental force was always present.
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| The simplicity of steel and its impact
The steel objects that Nico made as a professional sculptor, know few limitations and they adapt to almost every environment. They are powerful, timeless objects that are compatible with the surroundings in which they stand. Steel is a solid, neutral and durable material, which needs little maintenance. An important characteristic of steel is its purity. It absorbs colour and light and the environment around it can be found, so to speak, in the object itself.
The abstract sculptures look robust and static, but looks can be deceiving. The power of their simplicity lies both within the choice of material and their form. Besides the interaction between the sculptures and their surroundings, the manner in which geometry is applied brings dynamics to the objects. Like no other, Nico knew how to apply geometric shapes like circles, triangles and squares in a playful way. Due to the effect of the interplay of lines, the distribution of the planes and the weight of the separate elements, there is always ‘movement’ in the sculpture. This makes his sculptures always intriguing, far from static and exciting to look at from all sides.
Some objects are literally dynamic. From a slight touch of hand or a gentle breeze, some sculptures are set into motion. In all cases, after movement, they will resume their original position. When viewing the sculpture from all angles, you will see a constantly changing dynamic form.
One example is a sculpture weighing 450 kg that glides over water and that is set in motion by the wind. Nico worked together with an engineer from Fokker on this project in order to calculate exactly how the enormous steel sculpture could stay afloat.
The dimensions of his sculptures vary from small (4 cm) to monumental (7 m) and fit within almost every environment, whether inside or outside. Due to their strength and simplicity, the sculptures have attracted much interest, leading to many commissions within national and international companies, institutions, galleries and private commissions.
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| Craftsmanship
Every sculpture has its own challenge. The design and manufacture of stainless steel sculptures requires not only creativity but also the necessary machine skills. The desired result slowly takes shape by sawing, lathing, milling, welding, whetting and polishing the material.
Whether it was for an award, an art object for interior space or an outdoor sculpture, the design as well as the finished object itself were of equal importance. Through his work, you can see that Nico’s sculptures are a result of a craftsman that dared to believe in his own insight and knew how to utilize his skills and the capacity of his machines.
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| Commissions / Own work
The manufacturing of the sculptures was mostly done without any outside help. In his own workshop, Nico manufactured small and medium sized objects in their entirety. When the structure was too large to work on within the confines of his workplace, an approved company would manufacture parts of the sculpture.
[ to own work ] | [ to commissions ]
Innovation
“A different approach can lead to innovation”, was his motto. The outline or the assignment itself was the starting-point for the detailed development of his sculpture.
As a designer, Nico kept up with new developments and was always looking for ideas and alternatives. His most recent work proves, that he could use stainless steel in all possible forms. Steel waste material lent itself excellently as inspiration for new forms. Left over materials, which were at his disposal, served as the starting-point for new sculptures. The objects made from steel waste are in terms of format, smaller than customary work but have a considerable dynamic effect. They radiate energy and strength, whilst delivering the same standard of quality as any other sculpture.
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| Acquisition
For more information or to purchase a sculpture (Own Work), please use the link below.
[ to contact ]
Nico Liedorp died in the beginning of 2012, but his work is still represented in many interior and outdoor spaces. Part of his most recent collection is still available. His partner Lenie Friebel now represents his work.
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