‘Flag’ or ‘Beckoning gesture’, 1982, Heerhugowaard
'I am a steel working sculptor' - Frans de Wit
In 1977, De Wit ventures to New York City with photographer Chris Paul Stapels. The visit stimulates De Wit with new motivation. After his return he works with heavier raw materials and massive chunks of steel that must be cut with industrialized cutting torches. In an interview he states ‘I am a steel working sculptor’. De Wit clearly had to explain that he was not an old-school sculptor but worked with the newest materials and techniques instead.
‘Flag’ is a five meter high, solid steel statue commissioned by the municipality of Heerhugowaard for the Town Hall. De Wit’s preliminary studies date from 1978 and are included in various private collections. The sculpture was installed in 1982 and has two titles ‘Flag’ and ‘Beckoning gesture’. It shows an upright balancing diamond shape on a slightly curved rectangular stand. Despite its weight of 8000 kilos, it appears as though the wind distorts it, but remains stiffly upright. ‘Flag’ can nowadays be found on the roundabout on Middenweg/Reuzenpandasingel in Heerhugowaard because it has been relocated.
In 1979 De Wit also explored the combination of a diamond shape and wind in his 5 meter high ‘Wind statue’. It consists of three interconnected stacked diamond shapes that should perform like a mobile, literally moved by the wind. He spent years fitting, measuring and welding 3.5 tons of steel to give mass the appearance of movement, like waving wheat halms in the wind.