Stephan Balkenhol: Something is Happening

Chopping and carving into wood,Balkenhol reveals figures that seem to emerge from the trunk of a tree, as if they have always been hidden within it. His robust, colourful works depict everyday people or animals, sometimes a combination of both. In his ‘Zodiac’ series, Balkenhol plays with the ancient symbolism of the zodiac. He translated its twelve signs into contemporary forms. At the Kunsthal, these reliefs will all be shown together for the very first time. Also on display is the work ‘Mickey Mouse’ (2022): a striking relief depicting a man’s head with Mickey Mouse ears, incorporating Balkenhol’s early fascination with pop art. The sculpture’s apparent joyfulness sharply contrasts with the melancholic look on the man’s face. On 4 April 2025, a new statue of Dutch composer Willem Pijper (1894–1947), created by Balkenhol, was unveiled outside concert venue de Doelen, Rotterdam. This public work now forms part of the city’s cultural landscape.