Lady Bird Small

Willem Lenssinck

Willem continued to embroider on the bird from Happy Bird Day. He adapted it in such a way that it became an independent sculpture. Later, he had this sculpture enlarged in Paris. That was the client's request. He had the small work cast in bronze as a gift to the client. The client was unaware of this, as it was intended to be a surprise. Art dealer Kurt Zimmermann liked the small sculpture so much that he wanted to present it at TEFAF. However, the client visited the Kunsthaus Buhler stand and was not pleased with the commercial exploitation of the sculpture. A lawsuit ensued, which Willem won, but the damage had already been done. Out of spite, he then sawed off the tail of the client's large sculpture. This looked odd and had to be adjusted. Willem & Catherine were walking past the bakery and saw Easter eggs on display. He then asked the baker: Can you cast a chocolate egg? No, because the eggs were already cast, but Willem was allowed to use the steel mold for the eggs. He eventually made a gold-colored egg from this, which he mounted under the hole where the tail had been. At the unveiling, the client saw the sculpture without a tail and was very bewildered. Yet, this is not new. Rembrandt was also unperturbed when it came to complaints or misunderstandings. As an artist, one must be able to be autonomous.

128 x 42 x 34.5 cm

Sketch p. 245 Bronze and granite

2003