Through the "Lifestyle Fair" at Stolwijk, Netherlands,
for a lady-friend of the commissioner.
Sculpture unveiled at The Haque, Netherlands, November 15th, 2003.
The "commissioner" in this case was the complete circle of friends of the donee. With a delegation of four of them I kept close contact from the initial discussions up to the unveiling of the sculpture.

Title: La volonté de l'existence
(The will-power of the existence; viz explanation of the title).

Nature of stone: Serpentine (origin Zimbabwe)
Weight: ca. 22 kg.
The rough block was ca. 27 kg.
Dimensions: wide 50 cm, tall 32 cm

The creative process
Looking at the rough stone, and bearing in mind what the commissioner's delegation had told me about their lady-friend, one of my starting points was the semblance of a vertebra. In the human being the vertebrae are important elements, strongly supporting the body build around the spinal column. The natural shape of the stone was emitting such strength.
It also prospected a stout sculpture with soft, curved forms, full of symbolism. Thus I expected it to depict various aspects which would express, among other things, the great involvement shown by the many people around the future owner, and at the same time characterize her own attitude in daily life.

The colour of the selected Serpentine rock, when polished and treated with bee-wax, is not very dark. Therefore, its structure remains clearly discernible and the interplay between light and shadow stays alive. This sort of Serpentine, having a lighter shade of blackness than, for example, Springstone, proved to meet the purpose of the sculptural operation.

When you observe the finished sculpture - its face turned to the left - the right "branch" or tine of the vertebra at the same time turns out to be a strong life-artery conveying blood from the heart underneath all through the entire Being.
This heart shows a deeper hue of red and is full of elixir of life.....
A life-blood vessel that doesn't stop where the stone does end.....
In different bearings we go through a surprising anatomy that invites to be hugged.....

The central "cave" is a very complex zone where the transfer to "will-power" occurs. Man-shape represents Mankind. In this area a very important part is played by the relatives and friends of the lady for whom I made the sculpture. The cardinal chamber is curvaceous, soft, and endless. It touches all adjacent zones which in this way are interlinked. Hence its central position in the sculpture.

"Will-power" was given the appearance of a rather solemn-looking face. Underneath, a somewhat smaller "core" embodies a second heart as the source of energy which in turn is fed by the circle of friends.This "hardheaded" part of the sculpture, symbolizing reality, emits seriousness. The notion behind is affinity with the ancient Pharaoh whose appearance we still "imagine". In my sculpture this finds reflection in styling and head-dress. The long, brown hair springs from the vertebral core in locks that wave in the wind, full of itching liveliness.

Undulations also appear at the other side of the head, but there will-power is depicted differently. The face fades seamlessly into the waving hair. The life-artery, now at the left, makes a natural "by-pass" to will-power. At the bottom the shape borders the hairdo and joins the second heart. That closes the circle.

"Equanimity can be pursued and found, will-power can come out of it, but future is unpredictable ".

Remi Kruizinga, Plastic Artist/Sculptor
Stolwijk, Netherlands, Sunday November 16th, 2003

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The above illustrates the silver ornament I made for this lady as an appendix to the sculpture she was presented with.

The contours of this sculpture outline a small plate of matted silver which was slightly darkened.
The silver character "J" mounted onto it is polished to high gloss.

A pin at the reverse enables use as a brooch.

The origin of the title

When I was working at the sculpture during my stay with friends at Sellingen (a village in the Northern Netherlands) a lady came to visit. She was French and spent a day and a night as a guest of a Dutch family (my hosts) under the scheme of exchange between inhabitants of the "jemelle-towns" Sellingen (Neth.) and Andrecy (France).

By day she saw me at work in the open, and in the evening my sculpture was in the livingroom. She ascribed it a strong charisma and I explained how the sculpture arose from an assignment on behalf of somebody belonging to a circle of close friends. In her mother's tongue the visitor expressed her esteem with the words "C'est la volonté de l'existence". I felt this qualification matches the essence of my incentive perfectly, so from that moment on the sculpture bears this title.