Aegon : celebrates our sphere builder's 80th birthday

The celebration of Struycken's milestone birthday begins on March 10, 2019 at a location where he has had a long association: Kasteel Wijlre, an estate in the south of the Netherlands that showcases culture and landscape.

A new 3D painting by Struycken will cover the interior of the estate's Hedge House art pavilion and a solo exhibition by the artist will be held in the Coach House at Kasteel Wijlre.

The transformation, according to Kasteel Wijlre, consists of a painting that covers all of the building's floors, walls and ceiling. The red, black and white areas of color will change the experience of the architecture of Wiel Arets, who designed the Hedge House.

Struycken previously designed such a transformation in 2005 as part of the exhibition A Guest + a Host = a Ghost at the Kasteel Wijlre estate. But Struycken has never before created a painted work on this scale, and for the first time, the Hedge House is using its space for a spatially all-encompassing artwork.

Sponsor

Aegon is a sponsor of the Struycken project at the estate. 'I am very pleased with our partnership with Aegon,' says Brigitte Bloksma, director of the Kasteel Wijlre estate. 'The company makes the realization of the project at the Kasteel Wijlre estate possible, and thereby contributes to making the work of one of the most prominent artists in the Netherlands visible to a wide audience.'

The second element of Aegon's involvement is the public tours. Struycken's monumental work Three-dimensional Color Structure at Aegon's HQ consists of 5,212 aluminum spheres in 32 colors. The guided tours will take place on two Sundays, on 24 March and 26 May, bringing attendees along both Struycken's structure and other significant works in Aegon's art collection.

'Peter Struycken's color structure has been one of Aegon's most impressive works of art for over thirty years. The work is a source of inspiration and ensures that the gigantic hall is a pleasant space to be in. We are proud that we have this artwork in our collection and see the cooperation with Kasteel Wijlre as an excellent opportunity to let more people enjoy this piece,' says Lianne Schipper, curator of the Aegon art collection.

Interested parties can register for the tours here

Photo (left to right): Brigitte Bloksma, director of Kasteel Wijlre, and Lianne Schipper, curator of the Aegon art collection, shake hands in front of Peter Struycken's three-dimensional Color Structure in the atrium of the Aegon headquarters.