Robert Jasper Grootveld

Robert Jasper Grootveld ( born July 19, 1932 in Amsterdam, † February 26, 2009 ) was a Dutch Happening artists, precursor and inspirer of the Provo movement, inventor of the " floating gardens " and social activist.

Life

Robert J. Grootveld grew up in a socially engaged parents. He says he remembers clearly an earlier childhood experience, the "Sinterklaas" (Saint Nicholas), who was later to play with his Happenings an important role. " A clear recollection is of Nicholas. A miracle. (...) When I was three years old, the ears were vollgeleiert me about Santa Claus. My sister, the neighbor woman. Everyone. (...) I thought nothing of it. Nicholas was only alive for me at the moment where I actually saw was a pack in my shoe. " In the early 1960s appeared Grootveld as " Zwarte Piet " Knecht Ruprecht, at its weekly happenings. For him, the Saint Nicholas was a benefactor, children and philanthropist.

Grootveld became known as " anti-smoking magician". Previously, he worked as a florist, a window dresser, carpenter, advertising assistant, window cleaner, dishwasher, steward on a ship and Statist.

Work

1954 Grootveld bought a bicycle transportation ( " Bakfiets " ) and went on his way to Paris with the thought, " This is it! Adventure! I want to be free " Once in Paris, he got what he wanted doubts there, and after some consideration he knew it ." I want to be famous " (quoted by Arjan Visser )

A year later reported some Amsterdam newspapers that a window cleaner with black painted face - already an indication of the sympathy for the Bogeyman - and on a raft along the Amsterdam's canals drove. Meant was Robert J. Grootveld.

The poet and writer Simon Vinkenoog (1928-2009) organized on December 9, 1962, the first happening in Amsterdam, inspired by the American Fluxus movement. Also present were Grootveld and the medical student Bart Huges .. The latter was later known internationally when he stabbed on January 6, 1965 hole in the skull to - as he said - to expand consciousness and to remain constantly high.

Activities and Happenings

In 1961 Grootveld started its activities against the tobacco industry. Supposedly he wrote to hundreds of advertising posters, the word cancer, as a warning against the health consequences of cigarette smoking. For the actions he received - even though he had previously reported to the competent authorities - a prison sentence of 60 days. By His notoriety in the media as " anti-smoking magician" increased strongly .. His first happenings were held in March 1962 in the anti-smoking temple, in a converted car workshop, attended by the writer Harry Mulisch, the singer Ramses Shaffy and other spectators. Grootveld led different " mantras " on against smoking. A few weeks later, interest in his ideas had become so low, that he lit his temple on 18 April 1962. He was then arrested and sentenced for arson. In the summer of 1964 he moved his magical happenings at the Spui, a small square in the center of Amsterdam

. In this square is a statue called the Lieverdje, donated by a cigarette factory. As Knecht Ruprecht disguised began Grootveld every Saturday night at twelve clock to keep his ritual performances, combined with his already incurred Imago and incantations " Uche, Uche, Uche ", " Imaazje, Imaaazje " and " Klaas komt ". Klaas, ( for Sinterklaas, Saint Nicholas ) meant for him the "Santa Claus myth ", where he presented the philanthropist as " Messiah ", which should ensure that the times would change. This was a metamorphosis meant for the happy surprise in children when the "Santa Claus " comes from.

At this time Grootveld and the audience was tolerated by the authorities and the police. But that changed in 1965, as more and more viewers and participants were attracted by the midnight street theater and the media extensively reported on. Among the active participants were the anarchists Roel van Duijn and Rob Stolk. The sudden and incomprehensible hard appearance of the police, the Provo movement emerged. Grootveld joined the movement, got even more national recognition and individual television interviews. In 1966 he built the Amsterdam Vondelpark a Speakers Corner and founded with the painter Theo Kleij an " Exotic Kitsch Conservatorium ". Until about the end of 1966 Grootveld led to its happenings. The Provobewegung, which was inspired by Grootvelds street theater performances, in 1967 disbanded. The media reported in recent months, more about the Provos; but Grootveld, once media center, came more and more into oblivion. In 1970 he participated in the Kabouterbewegung and engaged later as an artist.

Until the 1990s, Robert J. Grootveld was ridiculed as " harmless fool ", a " city comedian " ( " Stadsgek "); but also as "a modern incarnation of the popular village idiot ". However, this changed with Grootvelds ideas and the realization of its floating gardens; also called Floating Islands. One of Grootveld artistically created form of soft Building, there were no hard materials made of metal or wood. He was driven in 1955 on a raft of this kind along the Amsterdam's canals. Grootveld using polystyrene blocks which are held together by plastic nets. By this construction, the soft, flexible structure was obtained. After his imagination could the floating islands without maintenance remain one hundred years and offer an advantage in case of flooding or high water: they rise with the water level. Apart from the " floating islands and Gardens" he built from old car tires a so-called " boot strap " ..

Today Robert Jasper Grootveld is named as an inventor and artist. On June 15, 2008 De Oceaan held, a unsinkable ship of 24 meters long and 8 meters wide, the last of its green fleet, moving into the Amsterdam harbor. " De Oceaan " was planted with flowers and trees, strawberry bushes, apple trees, grapes, currant and blackberry bushes, rhubarb, etc. There is also already a foundation, " blijven Drijven " that a constructive contribution to a "life on the basis of Grootvelds ideas. wants to make the water ". On 15 June 2000 be was "30 years of age Styrofoam Island Dream" honored by the official handover of the green fleet at the Amsterdam town council ..

Robert Jasper Grootveld

Life

Work

Activities and Happenings

Further Reading