In the past, elephants used to perform tricks in the circus. With this artwork in neon light, Herman Lamers shows an elephant balancing on a slack rope. That is quite remarkable for such a large animal, but this one is not affected by gravity. It must be wonderful for an elephant to feel so light for once. During Festival Tweetakt, this artwork hangs on the façade of Theater Kikker, one of the theatres where the performances of Tweetakt can be seen.
The Rotterdam‑based artist Herman Lamers always wonders why the things and the animals are the way they are, and whether it could be different. Many of his sculptures and installations are made for public space. With a cheerful absurdity, they respond to the place where they are situated, they invite to look in a new way. What Lamers creates fits Festival Tweetakt so well that this year he has a major presence in the exhibited artworks. At the youth exhibition at Fort Ruigenhoek, many more of his artworks can be seen. And also on the Neude, just around the corner from Theater Kikker. Lamers has shaped part of the Utrecht city square with various works, including his monumental Eyes Wide Open Church.
After his studies at the Minerva Academy in Groningen, Herman Lamers became a versatile artist. He is a sculptor, installation artist, photographer and draughtsman, and works with all kinds of materials: bronze, aluminium, neon, wood, textiles, plastics, clay and wire mesh. Lamers often collaborates with Yvo van der Vat under the name Lavart.
