"Waterwheel" Copper/Brass Kinetic Fountain 1982 by Hans Van De Bovenkamp

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Impressive large vintage kinetic fountain sculpture created by the renowned Dutch-American artist Hans van de Bovenkamp and dated 1982.
The … Read more Impressive large vintage kinetic fountain sculpture created by the renowned Dutch-American artist Hans van de Bovenkamp and dated 1982.
The piece is crafted from copper and brass, featuring a series of balancing arms attached to hand-formed cups or troughs. These components are designed to capture and tip water in a rhythmic, kinetic motion.
It embodies the Brutalist style of the 1950s and 1960s, characterized by its raw, torch-cut metal edges and patinated surfaces.These kinetic water sculptures feature balancing arms and cups designed to tip as they fill with water, creating movement and sound.
The sculptures are described as playful, machine-like conceptions that also function as humidifiers and can be used both indoors and outdoors.

Hans Van de Bovenkamp (born 1938) is a Dutch-born American sculptor. Born in Garderen, Holland in 1938 and immigrated to the United States in 1958. He is best known for his large scale abstract work in bronze, stainless steel, painted steel, and aluminum, often abstract, public sculptures and fountains, with early experience as an apprentice in kinetic fountain design. While primarily known for monumental steel and bronze works, his artistic focus often merges nature and, in his early career, included kinetic elements.
Kinetic Beginnings: In 1958, van de Bovenkamp worked as an apprentice for sculptor Richard Jennings, who specialized in large kinetic fountains.
His work typically features large-scale, abstract forms made from stainless steel, Corten steel, and bronze, often focusing on "Circles & Waves," "Clouds," and "Springmist" themes.
His, often stationary, sculptures are designed to interact with the environment, allowing sunlight to move across surfaces, creating a "kinetic" effect through light changes over time.
Notable installations include the Mushroom Water Garden (1966) and various public, corporate, and private commissions spanning a 55-year career.
Although he transitioned toward more static, monumental, abstract sculptures, his early work in the 1960s was heavily influenced by the avant-garde New York scene and his foundational experience with water-driven or moving, kinetic, forms.He is a member of the International Sculpture Center, the New York Sculptors Guild, and the Royal Society of British Sculptors. See less