Anton Bakker

Anton Bakker, he world-famous, abstract sculptor from the Netherlands, designs math-based structures that toe the line between sculpture and digital technology. His designs are usually made of metal, either steel or bronze, sometimes though, they are digital displays. Even more outlandish is that Bakker even makes sculptures that are not anywhere… meaning, they are nowhere at all.

Growing up in the Netherlands, Bakker met Dr. Jacobus “Koos” Verhoeff. The mathematician and artist quickly bonded over a shared interest in computer technology… this turned into a forty-year artistic collaboration. Koos was a professional acquaintance and informal advisor to M.C. Escher, the famed graphic artist and mathematician. As a big thank you, Escher gifted Koos one of his prints; through this relationship, Bakker fostered influence by Escher’s take on perspective.

Bakker had a passion for computers since since his young days and meeting Koos helped the pair collaborate on the possibilities of complex molecular shapes. Drawing further inspiration from Escher, a fellow Dutchman who creates mind-bending structures that present altered perspectives and infinite sequences.

It is a juxtaposition because his smooth, slinking structures appear almost hypnotic and make the viewers question how such perfect symmetrical pieces can be created from such unyielding and inflexible materials. Even more mesmerizing is that the shapes appear to change as viewers rotate around them. The viewer’s eyes find new ways to discover additional 3-D routes in the lines, spirals, and randomness.

Late last year, about 300 cities around the world decided to partake in www.globalsculpturepark.com. Only viewable from a cellphone or another camera-equipped mobile device, the app enables viewers in cities such as Tokyo, Mexico City, and Paris to enjoy Bakker’s math-derived sculptures.

It is a fascinating idea! How fabulous for people to be able to simple “pull up” these impressive sculptures and to examine the curves and angles that make up the pieces. Further advancing the experience are the online pop-up boxes that provide the geometry behind each piece. Since this is a global project, a drop-down box will provide information in different languages. Finally, people can use their phone’s location services to find the closest location to them.

All of Bakker’s forms are initially drawn with a computer program that he coded; however, not all of his creations stay virtual. About one dozen designs each year are sent as digital files to a foundry that turns them into bronze or steel sculptures.

More fascinating is the result titled, “Global Sculpture Park” that Bakker debuted with Niranjan Ingale, a colleague. We can probably thank the pandemic for this. A lot of time led to this unique invention! The show is one that was initially scheduled for New York’s National Museum of Mathematics. Along with the museum, Bakker turned to augmented reality.