Antony Gormley: Exposure (2010)

Hovering on the edge between land and water, a 26 meter tall squatting man looks out over the Markermeer. Fascinated by the malleability of the new polder, artist Antony Gormley found inspiration for this gigantic artwork in the virgin landscape. Driving through the polder, he discovered a rhythm of straight lines formed by canals, fields and windmills. Exposure recalls the network of power pylons that is spread across Flevoland like some sort of giant nervous system. The artwork, which resembles a transparent human figure, can already be spotted from quite a distance. As one comes closer to the work, this complex feat of engineering becomes ever more abstract and impressive. Gormley often takes the human form as a starting point in his work, and generally uses his own body as an example. Photo's: Jordi Huisman