Manfred Pernice
Sculpture Project Roulette

German artist Manfred Pernice (1963, Hildesheim) made a selection of the City of Utrecht’s public art collection. Each selected sculpture will be temporarily relocated from its current Utrecht location to the traffic circle in Leidsche Rijn. To this end Pernice designed a flexible rail network of pedestals so that numerous sculptures can be simultaneously placed in alternating constellations. Most of the pedestals will temporarily carry a sculpture and some will remain bare. The works can also be repositioned according to the composition, creating a type of ‘sculptural choreography’ in which the sculptures constantly forge different interrelationships. Once every six months, the sculptures on the traffic circle will be replaced by other works, as if it was a shift roster (Fahrplan) for sculptures. Each time a sculpture is relocated from its former Utrecht location to the traffic circle, an empty space remains, like a premonition.

Manfred Pernice independently selects the sculptures and determines where and how they will be placed on the traffic circle. Some sculptures are mounted on their original pedestals while others are placed without a pedestal and for some, such as Zich oprichtende vrouw, the pedestal has been partially reconstructed. "Gute Nachbahrschaft" is how Manfred Pernice describes this continual process of matching works with each other. The project creates a tension through its unexpected matching of works that are sometimes far removed from each other, both literally and figuratively. Indeed Roulette allows one to make an immediate comparison between sculptures that were created by different artists, in different eras and styles. In this way the traffic circle’s temporary 'family of sculptures' produces a bigger picture of its immediate surroundings, the city of Utrecht and (the identity) of its residents. In a few years the traffic circle will be demolished and the last sculptures will return to their original locations. And with this final movement the Roulette ‘performance’ will come to an end. The sculpture project Roulette involves more than just the sculptures presented on the Koehoornplein traffic circle. Oftentimes when a sculpture is returned to its former urban location, it serves as a festive celebration and revaluation of the work.

The first series
The first series of sculptures which were placed in May 2006, included Giraf by Theresia van der Pant (Julianapark), Jupiter by Jacques Lignier (Einsteindreef), Groep schapen by Arie Teeuwisse (Veemarkt), De Barmhartige Samaritaan by Piet Esser (Tuindorp Oost), Onder moeders paraplu by Theo van de Vathorst (Aquacenter Den Hommel) and Staande Figuur by Paul van Crimpen (Park Oog in Al).

The second series
On 31 October Manfred Pernice placed the second series of five sculptures on the traffic circle. The second selection was made up of: Groep schapen by Arie Teeuwisse, Denker by Lotti van der Gaag, Drie ezels by Floyd DeWitt, Gehender/Gaande man by Fritz Wotruba, Moeder met kind en bok by Frank Letterie and Suzanna by Oscar Jespers.

The third round
For the third round, Pernice selected four works by Utrecht-born sculptor Pieter d'Hont (1917-1997): Ochtend (Jan van Lingtuin), Man en kind (Park Transwijk), Merrie en veulen (Jacobsstraat) and Bizon (Beneluxlaan), one of his masterpieces. Pernice combines this group of sculptures with the captivating work Zich oprichtende vrouw (Herderplein), a 3.5m high sculpture of the Utrecht-born artist, Jan van Luyn (1916-1995). Through his combination of sculptures, Pernice unites the artistic visions of the sculptors. For example, Zich oprichtende vrouw portrays the hard labor of the post-war reconstruction as well as an affluent future. In this way Pernice encourages the viewer to pay attention to the context in which these sculptures were created and in which they continue to thrive: the post-war period, personal and urban competitiveness and the works’ current locations, which includes this temporary traffic circle. Two works from the previous round of Roulette will remain for another six months: Gehender (Pandhof St Marie) by Fritz Wotruba and Moeder, kind en bok by Frank Letterie.
The third round opened on 13 May 2007 with a lecture by Ronald Giphart that focused on the special history of the Herderplein and the sculpture Zich oprichtende vrouw.

The Koehoornplein is located at the entrance to Leidsche Rijn, Utrecht. Parking space is available on the property of Het Gebouw, Hogeweide 3b. From there it’s a 5 minute walk.

Roulette by Manfred Pernice was commissioned by Beyond, a longterm art project for Leidsche Rijn, a district of Utrecht. Supported by the Fonds Stadsverfraaiing gemeente Utrecht, Railpro and ANWB, Beyond is an initiative of the City of Utrecht in collaboration with SKOR.