The unopenable door, located opposite the Synagogue on the Folkingestraat, has been named as one of the top-100 pieces of post-war art in the Netherlands
As reported by the Groninger Internet Courant, the door is memorial piece for the Jewish residents of Groningen murdered in the Second World War.
Called “Portaal”, the bronze door is by artist Gert Sennema, and has been chosen as one of the most influential works of art in public space, the Dutch magazine BK-information has announced.
The magazine has mapped the history of Dutch art in public spaces, from 1945 onwards, and made a list of the top-100 pieces with social, historical, and cultural value.
Portaal’s position on the Folkingestraat is significant, as it is the former center Groningen’s Jewish neighbourhoord.
If you look closely, you will see that the bronze door lacks a handle: to signify that the former inhabitants of the street could no longer retell their own history.
Sculptor Gert Sennema (1962) was born in Grijpskerk. After training at the Minerva Academy, he created Portaal in the context of the Verbeeld Verleden project in 1997.
Portaal is part of a list of 12 that have been released so far. The complete list will be announced on March 13 via www.sleutelwerken.nl.
Image by Jenne Hoekstra, via the GIC
