NEWSLETTER

© krijn giezen

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This work was first presented as a concept by Krijn Geizen for the Kroller-Muller Sculpture Park in Otterlo in 1986, but was only realized in 2005, almost twenty years later. Because of its location in a protected ecological zone it required complicated permits and was subjected to many bureaucratic layers.
The main element in the work is a monumental staircase ascending towards the sky, and reaching all the way up to the tree tops, in direct alignment with Franse Berg, the highest point within the park of Hoge Veluwe. 80 m. long and 2,40 m. wide, the structure’s foundation and first steps are made of concrete. It continues as a stairway made of recycled wood (basracolus) that climbs slowly towards the top of the trees and overtakes them. The giant stairway – which starts at the base of John Raedecker’s sculpture “Ramure” (1928) - measures 250 m. Upon reaching the top, one is rewarded by a panoramic view of the park and nearby villages. A video of this vista is presented inside the museum as an impressionistic image of the landscape.
An important aspect of Krijn Giezen’s work is to involve public participation. The visitors are invited to climb and – besides the visual reward - to partake in a sensory and physical experience.
The artist had planned for the stairway to be extended to catch up with the growth of the trees in the forest. This was an important aspect of the project.
After an incident and problems of safety, access to the work has been limited. Some adjustments have been made that raise some concerns about the aesthetic integrity of the work.