While searching out some images of sputnik (this week marks the 50th anniversary of the satellite’s launch) I came across this image. Initially I thought it was a photo with some digital filter applied. Turns out it was a wooden bas-relief by Dutch sculptor Ron Vander Ende. Curiosity piqued, I checked out his site which, as it turns out, features some pretty nifty work. Mostly bas-refliefs made of “reclaimed timber.” Pictured above for example is Lunar Orbiter (apollo space capsule II) 2006. Also on view… a Vostok, an Apollo capsule, a Sony prototype U-Matic video recorder, an Akai-VT100 reel recorder, and a whole series of checkout counters, to name a few. See below for another example with a bit more context.

I was drawn particularly to a piece titled Schipsection Woodrelief, 2003. It’s the likeness of an actual cruiseship’s midsection which got parked in Rotterdam’s port across from Vander Ende’s studio-

Quote: In the Rotterdam port a new segment of a cruiseship lies ready for scrapping. The fifteen story high segment was recently (2002) built in Great Britain for an Italian shipping firm. It cost more than 70 million Euros to build. The 6500 ton giant, with 350 huts, a sun deck, and a shopping promenade, was meant to extend an existing ship, the Costa Classica. Because of problems at the yard in Liverpool the extension was delayed, causing the Italians to back out of the deal. The segment became superfluous and the shipyard went bankrupt. The segment will be stripped in Rotterdam for reuse. Furniture and inventory were sold to a theme park.

Here’s a shot of the actual ship’s section.

Evidently a group of local artists were allowed to tour the segment before it was stripped. Must have been a pretty phenomenal site. I can understand his being inspired.

Here are a couple of images of the piece being made to give you an idea of scale.

Here is the finished piece. Fine looking object that. Bravo Ron.

Hope you enjoyed.